Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Game Suspension for Inappropriate Contact

South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a ban of nine games for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' URC win over Connacht.

The altercation occurred in the early stages of the Bulls' 28-27 win in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Murphy being shown a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head area.

Following Murphy complained to the match official, the contact was examined by the television match official, who determined no conclusive video evidence.

The Bulls player remained on the field until he was replaced in the later stages of the game.

While the United Rugby Championship announced that Murphy's 20-minute red card was overturned by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was found to have breached law 9.27, which declares:

"Any athlete should not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Such behavior covers touching, twisting or compressing the genitals."

The panel determined that the contact met the red card threshold and justified a 12-week suspension, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an offence.

However, Wessels' suspension was shortened by 21 days because of his cooperative behavior 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 currently, the suspension will prevent the young player out of the Springboks' autumn Tests against Japan, Les Bleus, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the his club's league matches against Glasgow, the Lions and the Cell C Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.

Wessels has earned ten international appearances for the Springboks and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.

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