British and Irish Lions fly-half Owen Farrell has insisted that there are no hard feelings between him and Saracens teammate Schalk Brits after the two clashed on Saturday.

Brits will serve a three-week ban at the start of the season after being cited for punching the England international during the Lions' 59-8 victory over the Barbarians in Hong Kong at the weekend.

Despite the bust-up, Farrell is adamant that there are no dramas between the two players after Brits apologised.

"Things happen in rugby," Farrell said. "I was trying to hold him into a ruck, and he reacted to that. It all happens in rugby. There's no dramas there.

"When someone reacts to you, you try not to take a backward step, not just in this occasion but in every occasion. I just grabbed him. There was nothing nasty in it. It is a reminder of how vital it is to keep cool and not respond to provocation.

"These are big games, every game for the Lions is massive, and to lose someone to the bin would be massive. You can't afford to do that - everyone has to be disciplined. I shook Schalk's hand after the game, and he apologised when he came back on to the field."

Referee Steve Walsh had initially punished Farrell for his reaction to Brits's strike, but he reversed the decision and showed the latter a yellow card after viewing the incident via big-screen television replays.