Van der Walt’s wedding in South Africa could delay Scotland debut due to quarantine
Edinburgh outside half Jacovan der Walt has flown to South Africa to get married, hoping the best wedding present could be a Scotland cap on his return – even if he has to wait a little longer.
The South African ,26, qualifies to play for Scotland through residency on November 16, but will almost certainly have to quarantine for 14 days after flying back – which throws into doubt his availability for the Scotland v France game on November 22 as that isolation would finish the following day.
Injuries to both Finn Russell and Adam Hastings in Wales mean there is extra focus on who can fill the Scotland No 10 shirt and van der Walt has been training with the squad in preparation for his qualification, before rejoining Edinburgh for their 6-3 win in Llanelli.
Duncan Weir would be the obvious first choice replacement, with James Lang and Stuart Hogg as possible stopgaps within the squad, but van der Walt’s chances of a first cap are still high towards the end of the Autumn Nations Cup.
The wedding had already been postponed once and it is a set of circumstances no-one would have predicted, but the nuptials could cost van der Walt a cap against France – and possibly longer if Russell and/or Hastings recover.
“I’ m flying back to South Africa for my wedding on Friday ,” he explained .“It was going to be in June, but Covid didn’t let that happen so we decided to do it now. “I qualify for Scotland on November 16, so it’ s just around the corner, between the Italy and France games.
“I get married on Friday, fly back on Sunday then it sounds like I’m going to have to be in quarantine for a couple of weeks.
“I’m not sure exactly what’s going to happen with the quarantine but hopefully we can sort stuff out and I can be back on the pitch as soon as possible.
“I don’ t know if it can be accelerated because I’m being regularly tested, but I hope so.
“But it might be that the first weekend I’m eligible to play for Scotland, I’m in quarantine. I’ll keep in touch with the docs and see what they say.”
Van der Walt joined Edin - burgh in November 2017 and has gone onto make more than 60 appearances.