Rugby: Northampton have appealed against the 18-week ban imposed on Ireland flanker Neil Best for eye gouging. Best pleaded guilty to the initial charge of "making contact with the eye or eye area" of Wasps flanker James Haskell on the grounds that the action was reckless but not deliberate.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel accepted the offence was not pre-meditated but concluded Best "pulled Haskell's head upwards by the eye socket" once he realised contact had been made.
Northampton sought legal advice after the RFU confirmed Best had been suspended for 18 weeks.
The appeal will be heard on Monday, October 6th by an RFU panel comprised of chairman Ian Mill QC (Blackstone Chambers), John Doubleday and Robert Horner.
Best cannot be selected by Northampton until the final determination of the appeal.
If the 18-week ban is upheld it would keep Best sidelined until the end of January, ruling him out of 17 club games and Ireland's autumn international programme.
It would also place in some doubt his participation in the 2009 Six Nations Championship with Ireland due to take on France at Croke Park in their opening game on February 7th.
