Scotland front-row Zander Fagerson is set to miss at least two of his country’s Rugby World Cup warm-up matches after being suspended for three weeks for foul play.
The 27-year-old’s suspension covers Scotland’s World Cup warm-up matches against France in Saint-Etienne on August 12 and Georgia at Murrayfield on August 26, as well as the World Cup opener against South Africa in Marseille on September 10.
Set to exchange the final match of his ban
However, the tighthead prop can exchange the final match of his suspension for his participation in the coaching intervention programme which is “aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play”.
Fagerson was cited after he received a red card during Scotland’s 25-21 win over France at Murrayfield on Saturday. This follows a head-on-head challenge on Les Bleus hooker Pierre Bourgarit.
The incident occurred in the 54th minute and referee Ben O’Keeffe initially gave Fagerson a yellow card but the card was then upgraded to red after it was reviewed by the ‘Bunker’ foul play review system.
The independent judicial committee chaired by Rhian Williams (Wales) alongside Jamie Corsi (Wales) and Juan Pablo Spirandelli (Argentina), made the ruling.
“In considering submissions made on behalf of the player, the Committee agreed to amend the offence to Law 9.20 (b) (Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders),” read a statement.
“The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play under the revised Law and that it was worthy of a red card. After reviewing all the evidence, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a four week suspension.
“Having acknowledged mitigating factors including the player’s admission at the earliest opportunity, his remorse which was conveyed to the French player as well as shown during the hearing, and accepting that there were no aggravating factors to consider, the Committee reduced the four week entry point by one week, resulting in a sanction of three weeks (to be served as the following given the player’s upcoming schedule): Summer Nations Series: 12 August 2023 France v Scotland; 26 August 2023 Scotland v Georgia; Rugby World Cup: 10 September Scotland v South Africa.”
Allowed to face Boks if he completes coaching intervention programme
Crucially though, Fagerson will be allowed to play in Scotland’s World Cup opener against the Springboks if he successfully completes the coaching intervention programme and also clears him to participate during the rest of his country’s matches at the global showpiece.
There was concern in Scotland’s camp that Fagerson could miss a large part of their World Cup campaign as he was previously red carded in a Six Nations encounter against Wales in 2021. However, he is now set to play a full part during the World Cup.
READ MORE: All the 2023 Rugby World Cup squads and team updates
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