London Wasps, without a win in three games, suffered another blow today when England flanker James Haskell was banned for a week, ruling him out of Friday's clash at Leicester.

But Wasps could appeal, given the RFU disciplinary hearing's unprecedented rebuke for referee Martin Fox over his handling of the game against Worcester.

Haskell became involved in a bust-up which started when his team-mate, Phil Vickery, was blocked by Worcester's Tom Wood. The fracas escalated when Greg Rawlinson weighed in.

The RFU said today: "Fox stood by as Rawlinson punched Vickery five times, despite Haskell's request for intervention, and then he observed Haskell clearing out Rawlinson by lunging towards him head-first.

"Had the referee taken action against Wood, none of the rest would have followed."