Montpellier flyhalf Frans Steyn's appeal against his four-week suspension has been dismissed by an independent committee.

Steyn copped the suspension following a dangerous tackle on Jonny Sexton in Dublin, but on Tuesday he lodged an appeal to have the ban reduced. 

A three-man committee residing over the case rejected the appeal on Thursday, with European Rugby organisers issuing the following statement:

'An independent Appeal Committee has decided to refuse an appeal by the Montpellier player, Francois Steyn, against the four-week suspension imposed on him by an independent Disciplinary Committee following his sending off during his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 5 match against Leinster Rugby at the RDS.'

Steyn will miss Montpellier's next two Top 14 matches against Toulouse and Lyon and will only be available for selection on 6 March. 

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