Back is already missing Monday’s Zurich Test against Argentina and will not be available for the first three matches of the New Zealand tour, leaving him little time to state his case for Test selection.

The earliest Back can play is against Wellington on June 15, just 10 days before the Lions’ first Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch.

But Woodward gave the retiring Leicester flanker a huge vote of confidence as he slammed the RFU’s ruling.

Woodward said: “Everyone involved in the Lions tour of New Zealand recognises the very special qualities Neil Back brings to the game and he will have a crucial role to play on the tour.

“I think four weeks was harsh and I am disappointed. I am disappointed at the sentence and cannot really understand how they reached the decision.

“I do believe Neil has grounds to appeal. But at this stage of our planning for the tour, it seems advisable that we move on and focus on the challenge ahead.”

Back, making his third and final Lions tour before retiring to a coaching role with Leicester, was in line to play against Argentina but fell out of consideration after being cited for the punch that left Worsley needing 13 stitches in his mouth.

Back will also miss the Lions’ tour opener against Bay of Plenty on June 4, the clash with Taranaki four days later and the first big test of the tour, against the New Zealand Maori on June 11.

For a man so adept at the art of surreptitious skulduggery, it was a blatant punch and very few outside the Lions camp expected anything other than a ban. The pair came together at the back of a lineout in the first half of Wasps’ 39-14 victory over Leicester at Twickenham and Back swung a right-hander that caught Worsley flush in the face.

Worsley initially admitted his surprise that Back had not been at least sin-binned for the punch but, despite nursing a horribly swollen mouth, he hoped his old England comrade would not be cited.

Back, represented by the Lions’ travelling QC Richard Smith, pleaded guilty at the hearing but had not expected such a severe suspension.

“I was surprised to get a four-week ban but I have decided that there is no point appealing against it,” Back said.

“An appeal hearing would have taken place on Monday, when the Lions play their first game of the tour against Argentina.

“I think it is better for everyone that we now focus all our minds on the massive challenge ahead. That is what I intend to do.”