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May 22 - Despite hopes that an independent Appeals Committee would lift rugby player, Alan Quinlan's 12 week ban to enter the field, it was announced yesterday that he will need to give up his dream of joining the British and Irish Lions Tour that kicks off in Rustenberg at the end of the month.
The committee did not find enough reason to lift the ban that was first set in place after he was found guilt of "making contact with the eye area" of Leo Cullen, Captain of Leicester, during the semi final match of the Heineken Cup.
The committee said that Quinlan will not be eligible to play until September 2009 (counted as 12 playing weeks) and said that Quinlan had "not demonstrated that the original decision had been in error".
Lions coach, Ian McGeechan, as expected, called up England's Tom Croft to replace Quinlan on the team.
"Alan Quinlan's suspension is naturally disappointing and he must be devastated by the outcome of the hearing and appeal," said the Tour Manager, Gerald Davies. "That said, the Lions Management fully accepts the decisions of the ERC judicial process. The outcome necessitated the selection of a new player and Ian McGeechan and his selectors had no hesitation in selecting Leicester's Tom Croft.
Coach McGeechan also spoke about the continued suspension and Croft's subsequent selection. "We had to be fair and allow Alan Quinlan the opportunity to appeal his suspension," he said. "However, following the outcome of the appeal, we have replaced Quinlan with Tom Croft who, it must be said, was very unlucky not to have been selected in the original tour party."
McGeechan praised Croft's professionalism and said: "Tom showed in his recent performances for Leicester following the tour party announcement that he put aside his disappointment and perform at a very high level. He was on our selection reserve list and today his continued good form has been rewarded with selection to the Lions Squad for the tour of South Africa.
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