All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams will miss the first Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia following a World Rugby hearing overnight.
Williams was banned for four weeks following his red card against the British and Irish Lions, and it was initially thought that he would be able to serve his suspension before the first test.
Following his sending off, Williams subsequently missed the deciding Lions test and the Blues' defeat to the Sunwolves. The school of thought - shared by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen - was that he would be able to serve his suspension in preseason games for Counties Manukau, and possibly in a club rugby fixture.
"There's one game that's a bit contentious about whether they are going to consider it or not," Hansen told Radio Sport's Martin Devlin last week, referring to the club game.
"If that's not the case then we'll get him back just for the test match. If it's considered then we'll get him back for the game of three halves that we play every year before the Mitre 10 and Bledisloe starts," said Hansen.