British & Irish Lions star Dan Sheehan has been banned for four matches after his reckless clearout of Australia’s Tom Lynagh during Saturday’s 22-12 Lions defeat to the Wallabies. Australian fly-half Lynagh was taken off almost immediately and is set to miss the Wallabies’ trip to South Africa with concussion.

The Lions enjoyed a successful tour to Australia as they won the first Test 27-19 at the Suncorp Stadium, before winning the second 29-26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But Andy Farrell’s team weren’t able to complete a series whitewash in the final Test at the Accor Stadium on Saturday evening as the home side ran out as winners.

The third Test proved to be a bad-tempered affair, with the visitors desperate to return home unbeaten. And in the closing stages of the first half, hooker Sheehan entered a ruck and made contact with Lynagh.

The incident was reviewed by the match officials but went unpunished at the time, despite the fact Lynagh was unable to continue after undergoing a head injury assessment.

The citing commissioner ultimately triggered a disciplinary review after deeming the incident to be dangerous during further inspections.

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An independent foul play review committee (FPRC) convened to decide how Sheehan would be sanctioned.

And the FPRC explained in a statement: “In determining the sanction, the committee noted that in his submissions, the player had not accepted that foul play occurred and did not accept that the offence warranted the citing.

“The committee reviewed the matter, including submissions and footage, and determined that Sheehan's actions were contrary to Law 9.20(a) (charging into a ruck or maul).

“In determining foul play, the committee found that Sheehan's actions were reckless. The committee found that he made head contact with the Australian player, that his action amounted to a high degree of danger and that no mitigation applied.

“On the basis of all the evidence before them, the committee decided that the offending warranted the mandatory mid-range entry point of six matches.

“The committee decided not to award full 50 per cent mitigation due to the non-acceptance of foul play resulting in a final sanction of four matches.”

The committee then explained that the ban would be reduced to three matches if Sheehan successfully completes a coaching intervention.

Ireland international Sheehan is currently due to miss Leinster’s pre-season friendly against Cardiff because of the ban and will also miss his club’s league clashes with Stormers and Sharks in the autumn. He will be free to face Munster on October 18 as long as he completes the intervention.