British and Irish Lions

The Irish flanker was banned until January 27 next year after last week being found guilty of making contact with the eyes of Wasps' James Haskell on September 20.

The newly-promoted Guinness Premiership outfit had appealed against the decision of RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett but that appeal was dismissed meaning the original suspension still stands.

Best will therefore miss the next three-and-a-half months of Northampton's season, as well as Ireland's November internationals.

The ban comes just three games into Best's Northampton career after the 29-year-old joined the club from Ulster during the summer.

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree says The British & Irish Lions will have to be fully focussed to avoid a potential banana skin when they face The Barbarians a week today.

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.