Springbok Player Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Game Ban for Inappropriate Contact

Springbok prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for making contact with opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' URC victory over the Irish province.

The altercation happened in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Josh Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting the South African on the head area.

After Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded insufficient clear footage.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the game.

While the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which declares:

"Any athlete must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the private areas."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but as it stands, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, Italy and Ireland.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their Rugby Championship-winning squad during the recent tournament.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to play against Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.