South African Player Wessels Given Nine-Game 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 Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

The altercation happened in the 18th minute of the Bulls' 28-27 win against Connacht on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player stayed on the field until he was substituted in the second half of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that Murphy's 20-minute red card was withdrawn by a disciplinary panel, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"A player must not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials concluded that the incident reached the level for dismissal and justified a three-month ban, the minimum suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct during the hearing and his good record.

The forward and the Pretoria-based team have the right to challenge the decision, but currently, the ban will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's fall internationals against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team during the recent tournament.

Murphy, in contrast, is available to play against the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being exonerated.