Best loses appeal against 18-week ban for eye gouging

LONDON (Reuters) - 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 (www.rfu.com) 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 January 28 and will miss Ireland's home tests next month against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina.

(Reporting by John Mehaffey; Editing by Sonia Oxley)