Zander Fagerson will play in Scotland’s opening match of their World Cup campaign against South Africa on 10th September if he takes part in a World Rugby “Coaching Intervention Programme”.
The tight-head prop was handed a three match suspension by an independent disciplinary panel last night following his red-carding for a dangerous clear-out against France last Saturday.
But the ruling stated that: “The Player will take part in the Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of his/her sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.”
Fagerson will miss Scotland’s two remaining World Cup warm-up matches against France in St Etienne this Saturday and Georgia at Murrayfield a fortnight later (on 26h August).
This is very good news for Scotland. It was entirely possible that the panel enforce a six-match entry point with no mitigation, which could have meant missing all of Scotland’s pool matches against South Africa, Tonga, Romania and, crucially, Ireland.
Meanwhile, South Africa will be without three key players from their 2019 World Cup triumph when they launch the defence of their crown in France next month.
Fly-half Handre Pollard and centre Lukhanyo Am have been ruled out by respective calf and knee problems, while lock Lood de Jager is struggling with a chest problem.
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