Best evades Wasps' James Haskell during the Premiership clash last month © Getty Images

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Northampton and Ireland flanker Neil Best's appeal against an 18-week suspension for eye-gouging has tonight been dismissed by a Rugby Football Union panel.

The 29-year-old remains suspended until January 27, 2009. The ban covers eight rounds of Guinness Premiership action, all of Northampton's European Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup pool matches plus Ireland's autumn schedule.

Best was suspended last Wednesday after admitting he had "made contact with the eye or eye area" of Wasps flanker James Haskell during Saints' 24-20 victory at Franklin's Gardens.

It was only Best's third game for the club following his summer move from Ulster. The RFU panel accepted Best had not intentionally searched for Haskell's eye. But they did not agree with Best's account that contact with Haskell's eye had been "fleeting" and described his actions as "grave".

Northampton decided to challenge the ban after taking legal advice but the RFU appeal panel threw out their case at a London hearing this evening. Meanwhile, Worcester prop Chris Horsman has been charged with allegedly kicking Harlequins' opposite number Mike Ross.

Wales international Horsman was cited by independent officer Rob Hardwick after the Warriors' 30-23 defeat at Sixways on October 2.

Horsman will appear before a three-man RFU disciplinary panel in Bristol on Thursday, to be chaired by Christopher Quinlan and including John Doubleday and Paul Murphy.

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