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

South Africa front-rower Wessels has received a ban of nine matches for grabbing opponent Josh Murphy's genitals during the Blue Bulls' United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht.

The incident took place in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with opposing player Murphy being shown a 20-minute red card after reacting angrily by hitting Wessels on the head area.

After the Connacht player reported the incident to the match official, the contact was checked by the TMO, who concluded no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player stayed on the pitch until he was replaced in the second half of the match.

Although the URC confirmed that Murphy's temporary sending-off was overturned by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have breached law 9.27, which specifies:

"Any athlete should not engage in actions that is contrary to the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes touching, pulling or compressing the genitals."

Disciplinary officials were satisfied that the contact reached the level for dismissal and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under World Rugby regulations for such an violation.

Nonetheless, the player's suspension was shortened by three weeks because of his cooperative behavior during the hearing and his clean disciplinary history.

Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the ban will rule the young player out of the Springboks' fall internationals against Japan, Les Bleus, Italy and the Irish team.

Wessels will additionally be absent for the Bulls' league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup games with Bordeaux and Saints.

The prop has won 10 caps for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face the Irish rivals in Saturday's domestic clash after being cleared.