Best risks longer suspension

RFU Disciplinary boss Jeff Probyn has warned that Neil Best's appeal may culminate in an extended ban for the flanker.

RFU Disciplinary boss Jeff Probyn has warned that Neil Best's appeal may culminate in an extended ban for the flanker.

Best was banned for 18 weeks for gouging the eyes of James Haskell during Northampton's Guinness Prmeiership clash with Wasps a fortnight ago.

Probyn was on the disciplinary panel which handed out the ban, despite accepting that the contact with Haskell's eye had been accidental – Haskell had had a potential eight-week ban reduced to one week the week before for an 'accidental head-butt'.

“The panel accepted that the player had not intentionally searched for Haskell's eye but had tried to grab somewhere on his head to pull him up and backwards. Initial contact with his eye was, therefore, reckless,” read the judgement.

Many feel that given the 'accidental' nature of Best's offence, the sentence is already harsh, but Probyn thinks that Best, who is in trouble like this for the first time in 150 matches, now risks having his sentence extended because he is apppealing.

“It is not a draconian sentence. Neil Best got the full discount for his good record previously,” said Probyn to Talksport.

“Normally with eye-gouging incidents you can be given up to three years out, so an 18-week ban is not that bad.”

“Best has got to be careful in appealing it, because when you appeal you can actually have the sentence increased.

“He is taking a hell of a gamble, given that he admitted he did it (the eye-gouging).

“I actually sat on the disciplinary, and we had a discussion for two-and-a-half hours to decide where we were going.

“I think Best is taking a dangerous path, because he could easily end up with a longer ban.”