Adam Thomson has had his ban for trampling extended by one week by the International Rugby Board's judicial review today.

The All Blacks blindside was handed a two-week suspension after being yellow carded for standing on the head of Scottish opposite Alisdair Strokosh's in the 44th minute of the tour opener in Edinburgh.

His initial punishment was reduced to one week by the IRB judiciary due to his blemish free record in international rugby.

But IRB boss Brett Gosper subsequently announced a review of that decision after controversially tweeting his thoughts on the subject in response to UK media reaction.

That review found the original sanction had been "unduly lenient" and an independent appeal was launched. It concluded in London tonight where Thomson and New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew attended.

The IRB's independent Appeal Committee of judge Jeff Blackett (England), Pat Barriscale (Ireland) and Jeremy Summers (England), found that Thomson's ban should play out the full two weeks, which is the minimum recommended sanction for stamping or trampling on an opponent's head.

The 30-year-old has already effectively served that ban after missing last week's win over Italy and then not being considered for selection against Wales tomorrow due to the IRB's pending review.

He will be free to play again on Monday, which means he will be available for the All Blacks tour finale against England in London next weekend.

The Appeal Committee did not find the original decision of the IRB judicial officer to be wrong meaning the appeal was not actually upheld.

However, it did believe the decision to reduce Thomson's suspension from the entry point of two weeks to one week had not been consistent with IRB Regulation 17.

On that point the appeal was upheld, hence the two-week ban.

Thomson's suspension officially runs from November 11 to November 25.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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