NORTHAMPTON have lodged an appeal against former Worcester player Dylan Hartley's 26-week ban for gouging.
The Saints hooker was found guilty by a three-man Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel of illegally making contact with Wasps back-row forward James Haskell's eye and the eye area of Wasps flanker Jonny O'Connor during a Guinness Premiership game.
The appeal will be heard in London on May 3 with Hartley not being selected by Northampton until the matter is resolved.
Hartley is currently suspended until October 17, three days before the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.
The uncapped 21-year-old was rated as a strong contender to make England's two-Test South Africa tour next month.
He will miss relegation-threatened Northampton's Guinness Premiership clash against London Irish on Saturday, when defeat would effectively send Saints sliding into National League One.
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