Saints ponder action on sinner Best

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Best cannot play again until January 28 next year following his appearance before Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs.

He admitted making illegal contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps and England back-row star James Haskell with his hand during a Guinness Premiership game on September 20.

Best will miss eight rounds of Premiership action, plus all of Northampton's European Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup pool matches and Ireland's autumn schedule.

Capped 18 times, Ireland would have been watching his strong start to the season with interest.

Best appeared before a three-man panel chaired by the RFU's disciplinary officer His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett.

He had been called before the panel by Premiership citing officer Ken Pattinson following Saints' 24-20 victory over Wasps at Franklin's Gardens.

Haskell gave evidence before the panel, confirming his written statement made after the game that the player "gratuitously commenced to gouge at (his) eye with increasing intensity".

The Wasps man, a contender to captain England in their autumn Tests next month, said his vision became increasingly blurred, he suffered excruciating pain and felt physically sick because of soreness.

He was later taken to Northampton General Hospital, where an ophthalmologist diagnosed a corneal abrasion and prescribed antibiotic drops. Photographs taken a day after the game showed significant swelling around Haskell's eye, which was closed and bruised, with a one-centimetre scratch on his upper eyelid.