LONDON // The Northampton and Ireland flanker Neil Best has lost his appeal against an 18-week ban for eye gouging in a Premiership match last month. A statement on the Rugby Football Union (RFU) website said an RFU panel had rejected Best's appeal on Monday night. Best, who moved to Northampton this season from Ulster, was cited for illegally making contact with the eye of Wasps forward James Haskell.
He will not be eligible to play again until Jan 28 and will miss Ireland's home Tests next month against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina. *Reuters
