Scotland prop Zander Fagerson handed World Cup boost after receiving reduced ban
Scotland international Zander Fagerson could play in his country’s opening game at the World Cup after being handed a reduced suspension after being sent off against France.
Fagerson was sacked after a serious foul on Pierre Bourgarit in the 50th minute of Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game at Murrayfield.
The Glasgow striker has been handed a virtual two-game ban following a hearing before an independent legal committee on Tuesday.
That excludes him from Saturday’s second leg against France and the August 26 clash with Georgia, but potentially frees him for the World Cup meeting against South Africa on September 10.
He has been officially suspended for three weeks – a schedule that includes the Springboks’ game – but has been given the opportunity to replace the last game by participating in the Coaching Intervention Program to work on his technique.
Fagerson’s original charge was changed to ‘dangerous play in the ruck or maul’, for which World Rugby’s minimum sentence is four weeks. However, that was shortened to three weeks after the player admitted his guilt and showed “remorse” “at the earliest opportunity”. .
