Saints appeal sanction on Best

NEWS:THE ENGLISH Premiership side Northampton have appealed against the 18-week ban imposed on Neil Best for eye-gouging.

On the grounds the action was reckless but not deliberate, the Ireland and former Ulster flanker pleaded guilty to the initial charge of "making contact with the eye or eye area" of Wasps flanker James Haskell during the Premiership match at Franklin's Gardens on September 20th.

The Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel accepted the offence was not premeditated but concluded Best had "pulled Haskell's head upwards by the eye socket" once he realised he had made contact with Haskell. They described the offence as "grave".

Northampton sought legal advice after the RFU confirmed Best had been suspended for 18 weeks, a ban that if sustained will keep him out of competitive rugby until January 29th.

The appeal will be heard next Monday by a panel comprising chairman Ian Mill QC (Blackstone Chambers), John Doubleday and Robert Horner.

Best remains suspended and cannot play for Northampton until the final ruling on the appeal.

That ruling could have ramifications for Irish rugby and national coach Declan Kidney's selection of a squad for the autumn internationals as well as next year's Six Nations Championship.

Flanker Denis Leamy is still in rehab following shoulder surgery in the summer, while Simon Easterby - a regular number six under Eddie O'Sullivan and Ireland's most capped backrow forward - retired last March after winning 65 caps, playing his final game as a replacement against England.

The Easterby vacancy as well as Leamy's current absence would have left the door open for Best to again stake a claim with Ireland.

Leinster's Jamie Heaslip is likely to be the number one candidate for selection at number eight, while Munster's David Wallace, Leinster's Shane Jennings and a rejuvenated Alan Quinlan will also have impressed Kidney.

The improving Donnacha Ryan, who last Friday started for Munster against Leinster, and the powerful Stephen Ferris, who has recently returned to the Ulster squad after injury, would also expect to be in the mix.

A relative latecomer to rugby, Best made his senior debut for Ireland as a replacement against New Zealand in 2005.

He scored his first international try in his second appearance against Romania the same year.

His last Ireland appearance was against Argentina in the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals.