Wasps and England forward Nathan Hughes‘ disciplinary hearing will reconvene next Wednesday.
Hughes’ hearing on Wednesday of this week investigated his citing for punching during a Gallagher Premiership game against Gloucester last weekend.
But the issuing of any judgement was postponed when it emerged that the England number eight tweeted “What a joke” upon learning the verdict of his case.
Following initial confusion it since became clear that Hughes’ tweet, which was subsequently deleted, forced the hearing to be reconvened next week.
In a statement, the RFU said: “The independent disciplinary panel comprising Gareth Graham (chair) with Matthew Weaver and Martyn Wood will reconvene at 1830 on Wednesday 17 October 2018 to resume the case of Wasps’ Nathan Hughes, which was adjourned on Wednesday evening this week.
“Under RFU regulation 19.5.3, Hughes remains suspended until the conclusion of the matter.”
If Hughes is reprimanded for his Twitter comment, he is likely to face either additional sanction on the grounds of conduct or the withdrawal of any mitigation applied to any original ban issued for punching.
In an RFU statement issued on Wednesday, panel chairman 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.”
Hughes was cited for punching Lewis Ludlow in the head while being pinned to the floor by the Gloucester flanker in the final minute of Wasps’ 35-21 defeat at the Ricoh Arena.
It could have seen the 27-year-old banned for six weeks if found guilty, as blows to the head are automatically considered to be a mid-range offence.
A suspension of that length would rule him out of the November Tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Japan, but make him available for Australia on November 24.
His absence would leave England with Saracens’ Billy Vunipola as their only recognised number eight after Exeter forward Sam Simmonds was ruled out for at least six months by a knee injury.