Zander Fagerson to be available for Scotland's Rugby World Cup opener

Scotland have received a huge boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup campaign with prop Zander Fagerson set to be available for the tournament opener following a reduced ban.

The Glasgow prop was sent off in the 50th minute during Scotland's game against France at Murrayfield on Saturday for a high tackle on Pierre Bourgarit.

Fagerson appeared before an independent Judicial Committee comprising of Rhian Williams – Chair (Wales), Jamie Corsi (Wales) and Juan Pablo Spirandelli (Argentina) and modified his offence to a breach of Law 9.20 that deals with 'Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.'

The panel deemed that the offence had a mid-range entry point for foul play and was initially handed a four-week suspension that was reduced by a game taking into account the mitigating factors.

The suspension could be reduced to two games as Fagerson 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.

He will now miss Scotland's warm-up games against France and Georgia on 12th and 26th August respectively and will be available for the tournament's opening game against South Africa on 10th September.