Munster's back-row forward Alan Quinlan is definitely out of the Lions' tour of South Africa after his 12-week ban for making contact with an opponent's eye was upheld, Heineken Cup organisers European Rugby Cup (ERC) have confirmed.

The Ireland international was suspended over the incident, involving Leinster's Leo Cullen, during Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final defeat at Croke Park on 2 May. Quinlan exercised his right to appeal but an independent appeal committee found no reason to alter the original verdict or punishment.

An ERC statement read: "The committee found that Alan Quinlan had not demonstrated the original decision had been in error or that it should be overturned or varied. Accordingly the appeal committee dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension imposed on the player of 12 weeks."

Quinlan will therefore be unable to play again until September. Leicester flanker Tom Croft, one of the stars of England's Six Nations campaign, is favourite to replace him.