Leading New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been suspended by the International Rugby Board (IRB) for verbal exchanges with Irish winger Shane Horgan during this year's Lions tour of New Zealand.

The Lions complaint about Walsh's conduct has led to the North Harbour whistler being the only one of 23 referees on the IRB A or B-list international panel not involved in the 22 Tests to be played next month in Europe and Argentina.

The length of the ban is not clear but Walsh's next Test appointment is not until the February 12 international between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff.

New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew accepted the IRB's ruling, which comes on top the union's own disciplinary action.

"We assessed the situation and some appropriate action, which I can't go into because it involves private employment details, has been taken," Tew told The New Zealand Herald newspaper.

"We will continue to support him - we just don't want this to happen again."

Tew said Walsh had remained eligible for any game in New Zealand since the Lions match. He will control Saturday's NPC first division final between Auckland and Otago.

The decision to overlook Walsh was made by a committee convened by IRB referees manager and former top New Zealand official Paddy O'Brien.

The incident involving Horgan came in the Lions' second tour match against Taranaki, in which Walsh was a touch judge.

A British newspaper report said the incident began when Walsh advised the referee that Horgan had knocked the ball on.

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