Best faces anxious wait to learn his fate

NORTHAMPTON and Ireland forward Neil Best faces an overnight wait to discover his fate after appearing before Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs.

The Ireland international flanker was cited for allegedly making contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps and England star James Haskell with his hand during a Guinness Premiership game 10 days ago.

But after a two-and-a-half-hour hearing in London yesterday, attended by Best, the three-man RFU panel decided on further discussions.

Their verdict, together with a full judgment, will be announced this morning.

Best, who sat out Saints’ Premiership defeat against Saracens last Saturday and will not be involved when Northampton visit Leicester tonight, could face a lengthy ban.

The 29-year-old, capped 18 times by Ireland, was reported by independent citing officer Ken Pattinson. It was only his third Premiership appearance after joining Northampton from Ulster this summer.

He was charged “with an act contrary to good sportsmanship under law 10.4k”.

Best’s Northampton team-mate, hooker Dylan Hartley, received a six-month suspension last year after being found guilty on two counts of eye-gouging. The incidents also happened against Wasps, and also involved Haskell, together with Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor.