Northampton flanker Neil Best has been cited for alleged foul play during a Guinness Premiership game. The Ireland international faces a Rugby Football Union hearing in London next Tuesday.

He has been reported by independent citing officer Ken Pattinson for illegally making contact with the eye or eye area of Wasps and England forward James Haskell in Saturday's Premiership clash at Franklin's Gardens.

Haskell is currently banned after receiving a one-week suspension for striking an opponent with his head during Wasps' home defeat by Worcester on September 14. The England star, though, could still have missed Wasps' trip to Leicester tomorrow due to an eye injury sustained against Northampton.

Best, 29, joined Saints from Ulster earlier this summer. He has been charged "with an act contrary to good sportsmanship under law 10.4k." He must now appear before a three-man RFU disciplinary panel chaired by His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, assisted by Peter Budge and Jeff Probyn.

The range of punishments for Best's alleged offence vary from a six-week ban to a maximum two years. Best's Northampton team-mate, hooker Dylan Hartley, received a six-month suspension last year after being found guilty on two counts of eye-gouging. The incidents also happened against Wasps, and also involved Haskell, together with Wasps flanker Johnny O'Connor. Hartley's suspension meant he was ruled out of contention for a place in England's 2007 World Cup squad.