Zander Fagerson free to play in Scotland's Rugby World Cup opener after having France red card ban reduced

Zander Fagerson will be available to play in Scotland’s Rugby World Cup opener against South Africa after having a disciplinary ban reduced.

The tighthead prop - who plays for Glasgow at club level - was sent off for a high tackle on Pierre Bourgarit in his country’s warm-up match against France, which Scotland won 25-21.

Following a hearing in front of an independent judicial committee, Fagerson received a three-match ban but he has been given the option of exchanging the third match for a ‘Coaching Intervention Programme’.

The ruling explained how the education course is "aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play".

This outcome effectively takes Fagerson’s ban down to two games, which will see him miss Scotland’s return fixture against France and their final warm-up match against Georgia.

However, the decision will allow him back to action in time to take on the World Cup’s defending champions at the tournament on September 10 in Marseille.

Fagerson was initially reprimanded for charging following the incident with Bourgarit, but this was amended to “dangerous play in a ruck or maul”.

A four-week suspension is the minimum punishment from World Rugby for foul play which results in contact with the head, but this has been reduced to three due to Fagerson’s admission of guilt “at the earliest opportunity” in which he showed “remorse”.

This comes as a huge boost to Gregor Townsend, who is light on options in the tighthead position, with inexperienced internationals Murphy Walker and Javan Sebastian his other options.

After facing South Africa, Scotland will go on to play Tonga, Romania and Ireland in World Cup Pool B.

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