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Banned Scotland prop Fagerson could have a part to play yet in the Six Nations
By Liam Heagney
A decision has finally emerged from the Zander Fagerson appeal hearing that was held on Tuesday, Six Nations officials releasing a statement on Thursday afternoon that upheld the original decision surrounding the Scotland prop's red card but admitting that matches for his club Glasgow last week and next week should count towards his four-game ban.
When Fagerson's suspension was announced last week following his sending-off for Scotland against Wales at Murrayfield on February 13, it was outlined that the front row's four-game ban would cover his country's three remaining Six Nations games and one club match once the Six Nations was over.
However, Fagerson's appeal hearing agreed that Glasgow matches in the fallow weekends in the Six Nations - on February 19 versus Ulster and against Zebre on March 6 - should count towards his suspension, potentially freeing the prop to play for Scotland before the end of the season's Six Nations tournament.
However, the situation surrounding which games Fagerson will now miss has since been complicated by the postponement on Thursday of this weekend's France versus Scotland match in Paris.
The verdict from the appeal hearing read: "At Tuesday’s hearing, the appeal committee heard submissions from Fagerson and his legal counsel Bruce Caldow, as well as from the Six Nations legal representative.
"Fagerson challenged a number of the disciplinary committee’s findings, including that he had infringed law 9.20(a), that his act of foul play had warranted a red card, that he had made ‘direct’ contact with Wyn Jones’ head, that the mitigating factors allowed him a reduction in his suspension of just two weeks, and that the two Glasgow matches in the Guinness PRO14 (to be played on the fallow weekends in the Six Nations) should ‘count’ towards his suspension.
"The appeal committee were not satisfied that Fagerson had established that the disciplinary committee had been wrong in upholding the red card and therefore dismissed that part of the appeal. The appeal committee were also not persuaded that the disciplinary committee had been wrong in arriving at a suspension of four weeks. However, the appeal committee was satisfied that the disciplinary committee had not given appropriate weight to the evidence before it about the matches to be covered by the period of suspension.
"Necessarily, decisions on matches to be covered by suspensions are fact-sensitive and player-specific. 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 the Fagerson suspension currently applies to the following matches:
- February 19: Ulster
- February 28: France (subsequently postponed)
- March 6: Zebre
- March 14: Ireland
"Due to the postponement of the France vs Scotland match, the appeal committee will have the opportunity to review Fagerson’s playing schedule and consider the consequences of the postponement."
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Jalibert should be banned from playing for the French ever again, his rank and self-serving arrogance is so typical of the attitude in French rugby and in their culture as well. I am a Saffa and have lived in France for many years and, generally speaking, it's every man for himself, the team comes 2nd or even 3rd sometimes. The Boks show humility and team spirit and play for their country, never themselves......
Go to commentsI remember there was rhetoric about the new coach coming in and continuing the same system Jones installed. That's obviously gone out the window. It was cool watching those clips from the NZ tour, that was a serious Wolfpack. AB players looked like they were being hunted.
What we have now is a shambles. It clear El Abd doesn't know what he's doing and he has no track record to indicate otherwise. His appointment is ridiculous. Nothing against the bloke but he's only got the job because he's mates with Borthers.
When you look at how poorly organised our defence is and how blunt our attack is (Marcus excepted). It pains me to hear these so called pundits banging on about how close England are to being a top side based on narrow losses. England have massive issues, are a long way from being a good side and do not have the coaches to fix the issues. It's a testament to the quality of the players that they're managing to front up enough to compete with these sides.
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