FAGERSON APPEAL FAILS BUT PROP COULD YET RETURN FOR ITALY MATCH

SCOTLAND prop Zander Fagerson could yet play a part in this year’s Six Nations despite his four-week suspension being upheld by an independent appeals committee. Fagerson was sent off in the second half of the 25-24 defeat to Wales on February 13 after a dangerous clear-out in a ruck saw him make contact with the head of Welsh prop Wyn Jones. The Glasgow Warriors man was initially banned for four weeks in alignment with Scotland’s schedule, which ruled him out of the remaining fixtures against France, Ireland and Italy. He exercised his right to appeal. It was Fagerson’s contention that, although acknowledging he had committed an act of foul play, he did not believe it to be worthy of a red card. He made his case to an independent appeals panel via a hearing on Zoom on Tuesday. And, after deliberating for almost three days, it was finally announced yesterday afternoon that the ban was to be upheld. What has changed, however, is the fact that disciplinary chiefs are now willing to include two Glasgow games — against Ulster and Zebre — as part of the suspension. The four games are: Ulster (for Glasgow), France (for Scotland), Zebre (for Glasgow) and Ireland (for Scotland), which could then see him free to face Italy on the final weekend. The match against Ulster took place on February 19, with the Zebre clash scheduled for next weekend on March 6, which is supposed to be a fallow week in the Six Nations. The complication comes from the fact that Scotland’s match against France has now been called off, and so it is unclear what will constitute the fourth game of the suspension. The SRU may now make the case that Glasgow’s game against Leinster on Sunday should also count, thereby freeing him to face Italy on the final weekend of the Six Nations on March 20. A Six Nations statement read: ‘On the basis of all the evidence, the Appeal Committee was satisfied that the suspension should have covered the Glasgow matches against Ulster and Zebre, with the effect that Mr Fagerson’s suspension currently applies to the following matches: Ulster, France, Zebre, Ireland. ‘Due to the postponement of the France v Scotland match, the Appeal Committee will have the opportunity to review Mr Fagerson’s playing schedule and consider the consequences of the postponement.’