Alan Quinlan's hopes of touring with The British & Irish Lions are over after the Munster flanker saw his appeal against a 12-week ban dismissed at a disciplinary hearing in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Irishman was landed with the suspension after being found guilty of making contact with the eye area of Leo Cullen during Munster’s Heineken Cup semi-final defeat by Leinster on May 2.

Quinlan decided to appeal against the decision but the independent Appeal Committee found that he had ‘not demonstrated that the original decision had been in error, or that it should be overturned or varied.’

As a result, the original 12-week ban has been upheld. Quinlan, therefore, remains unable to resume his playing career until September 10.

The failed appeal means that Lions boss Ian McGeechan will have to call up a replacement for Quinlan, with England’s versatile forward, Tom Croft, believed to be the current frontrunner for the vacancy.