Former NRL bad boy Greg Bird will miss Catalans Dragons' Challenge Cup final after failing in his appeal against a four-match suspension.
The former Kangaroo Test forward was given the ban for a dangerous tackle during the Dragons' 25-20 defeat at Wigan in the last round of the regular Super League season.
The ban ruled him out of Sunday's cup semi-final against St Helens and will also force him to sit out the trip to Wembley to face Warrington as well as the Catalans' opening two matches of the Super 8s.
Bird challenged the grading of the charge but an appeals panel felt it was correct and that the suspension should stand.
Meanwhile, Hull KR forward and former NRL journeyman Maurice Blair has been given a two-match ban for a gesture he made to the crowd after being sin-binned for dissent during the Hull derby at the KCOM Stadium last month.
Blair pleaded guilty to an offence described as other contrary behaviour but was successful in having the charge downgraded from D to C.
Blair, who was also fined, will miss Rovers' opening Super 8s Qualifiers against Salford and Toronto.
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