Best facing lengthy ban

Ireland international Neil Best could face months out of rugby after his appearance before disciplinary chiefs next week.

The Northampton flanker has been cited for alleged foul play during a Guinness Premiership game.

Independent citing officer Ken Pattinson reported him for illegally making contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps and England forward James Haskell with his hand in last Saturday's clash at Franklin's Gardens.

Haskell is currently banned after receiving a one-week suspension for striking an opponent with his head during Wasps' home defeat by Worcester six days earlier.

The England star, though, could still have missed Wasps' trip to Leicester on Friday night due to the eye injury sustained against Northampton.

Best, 29, joined Saints from Ulster earlier this summer.

He has been charged "with an act contrary to good sportsmanship under law 10.4k".

He must now appear before a three-man Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett, assisted by Peter Budge and Jeff Probyn, in London next Tuesday afternoon.

The range of punishments for Best's alleged offence vary from a six-week ban to a maximum of two years.

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.