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Scotland statement: Hotel accident ends David Cherry's World Cup
By Liam Heagney
Scotland’s David Cherry became the second Pool B hooker on Thursday morning to forfeit his place for the remainder of the Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks, who defeated the Scots last Sunday in Marseille, confirmed that a knee injury had ruled Malcolm Marx out for the rest of their France 2023 campaign and that development was quickly followed by the confirmation that Scotland’s Cherry will also miss what is left of his team’s campaign.
However, whereas the Springboks opted not to immediately replace Marx and instead decided to wait and potentially fill the vacancy with a player who might play in a different position, Scotland have called up the soon-to-retire Stuart McInally.
He unluckily missed out on a place in their squad of 33 last month but he arrived in France last week as a precaution.
A statement read: “Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally has been called up into the Rugby World Cup 2023 squad to replace David Cherry who has left the tournament through injury.
"To ensure a full front row complement McInally, who is playing in his second Rugby World Cup, joined the Scotland squad today [Thursday] after initially being put on standby following a concussion sustained by Ewan Ashman last week.
“Ewan Ashman is continuing his return to play protocols and is currently on track to be available for selection next week.”
“Cherry suffered a concussion after an accident in the team hotel earlier this week and is now following the current return-to-play protocols.
"This means he is unavailable for at least the next 12 days. The decision was therefore taken to end his tournament involvement on medical grounds after he injured his head on Monday, slipping on hotel stairs, on a team day off."
Cherry said: “I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving the squad with a concussion.
"I have loved my time in camp over the summer and gaining my first World Cup cap on Sunday against South Africa. I want to wish the team all the best for the remainder of the competition."
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500k registered players in SA are scoolgoers and 90% of them don't go on to senior club rugby. SA is fed by having hundreds upon hundreds of schools that play rugby - school rugby is an institution of note in SA - but as I say for the vast majority when they leave school that's it.
Go to commentsDon't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
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