England star left in the dark

UPDATE: Nathan Hughes will have to wait a week to find out if he can play in any of England's November internationals.

The Wasps No.8's disciplinary hearing was postponed for a week after he spent four hours in front of a  panel on Wednesday.

Hughes was cited for "punching or striking [Lewis] Ludlow contrary to Law 9.12" during Wasps 21-35 defeat to Gloucester in the Premiership last weekend.

No clear explanation was given for the postponement other than "an issue that arose during the evening".

The independent disciplinary panel comprised Gareth Graham with Matthew Weaver and Martyn Wood.

Independent panel chair Gareth Graham said: "The independent panel appointed to deal with this case will reconvene in not less than seven days in order to deal with an issue that arose during the evening.

"No judgment will be issued by the panel in this period and the panel direct that the player, Wasps Rugby and the RFU are to make no further comment until the case has concluded.

"The player remains suspended until the conclusion of the matter."

Hughes will miss Wasps' Champions Cup opener against Leinster on Friday.

If found guilty, Hughes could face a lengthy ban which will see him miss England’s matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia in November.

Additional source: independent.co.uk