 Best moved to Franklin's Gardens from Ulster in February |
Northampton and Ireland flanker Neil Best has been handed an 18-week ban after pleading guilty to a charge of eye-gouging. Best was cited for making contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps forward James Haskell with his hand in the Premiership match on 20 September. The 29-year-old, who joined Saints from Ulster in the summer, will not be allowed to play again until 28 January. Best has until 1200 BST on Thursday to lodge any appeal against the ban. Northampton issued a statement after the verdict which did not rule out an appeal against the severity of the ban. "In the light of the detail of the judgement, the club and player are in the process of seeking legal advice and will make a further statement during the course of today (Wednesday)," read the statement. The suspension rules Best out of Ireland's three November internationals and 17 Northampton first-team games across the Guinness Premiership, the EDF Energy Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The game against Wasps was only Best's third competitive appearance for his new club, and he was removed from the team to face Saracens last weekend ahead of the disciplinary hearing.  | 606: DEBATE |
Haskell was taken to hospital after the game and found to have abrasions and swelling around his eyes, while the player complained his vision had been affected. At the hearing, chaired by RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett, Best said he had acted "recklessly but not deliberately" and received character testimonials from his former Ulster coach Alan Solomons and Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder. The panel accepted Best, who apologised to Haskell on the field, did not intend to cause serious injury but judged the offence to be towards the top end of the scale of seriousness. The range of punishments for Best's offence varied from a six-week ban to a maximum of three years. Best's Northampton team-mate Dylan Hartley received a six-month suspension last year after being found guilty on two counts of eye-gouging, also against Wasps. Those incidents also involved Haskell, together with former Wasps flanker Johnny O'Connor.
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