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Grewcock's six-week ban is upheld

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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- England and British Lions lock Danny Grewcock lost his appeal against a six-week ban on Tuesday and looks likely to miss the Rugby World Cup.

Grewcock was found guilty last week for punching Thibault Privat while playing for English club Bath in the European Challenge Cup final loss to France's Clermont Auvergne in May.

An independent panel has upheld the suspension, starting from August 4, the start of next season, to September 15.

The period covers England's three World Cup warm-up matches and their first matches in the tournament against the United States on September 8 and South Africa on September 14.

Because of the ban, Grewcock was not included in England coach Brian Ashton's 47-man World Cup training squad, and Ashton noted that Grewcock's chances depended upon a successful appeal.

Grewcock, capped 69 times for England since 1997, played in the last two World Cups, helping England triumph in 2003.

But his career has been blemished by indiscipline, include a red card against the All Blacks in 1998, and a two-month ban for biting during the Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005.

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