South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over the Irish province.

The incident took place in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on last Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after responding aggressively by striking Wessels on the head.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the television match official, who concluded no definitive proof.

Wessels stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the game.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which specifies:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or squeezing the genitals."

The panel were satisfied that the incident reached the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum suspension under international rugby regulations for such an offence.

Nonetheless, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has earned 10 caps for the Springboks and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

Murphy, meanwhile, is available to face Munster in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.