South African Player Wessels Handed Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for making contact with Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident took place in the 18th minute of the narrow victory against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

After Murphy complained to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was checked by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

Wessels remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

While the URC confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the principles of fair play. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."

The panel were satisfied that the event reached the red card threshold and warranted a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

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

Wessels and the Pretoria-based team have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Warriors, the Emirates Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Saints.

Wessels has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

The Connacht player, in contrast, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.