Ireland flanker Shane Jennings has lost his appeal against a 12-week suspension for gouging.
Jennings was handed the suspension for “making contact with the eye area” of Nick Kennedy in Leinster's 12-9 Heineken Cup defeat by London Irish on October 9.
An independent committee in Dublin dismissed the appeal today after finding that Jennings had not demonstrated the original decision had been made in error or that it should be overturned or varied.
Jennings will resume playing on January 7, ruling him out of Ireland's autumn internationals against Australia, Fiji and South Africa.
The 28-year-old will also miss Leinster's next two rounds of the Heineken Cup - home and away fixtures against the Scarlets.