Zander Fagerson appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee via a Zoom call today.
Mr Fagerson had received a red card in the match in the Guinness Six Nations Championship between Scotland and Wales on 13 February 2021 at BT Murrayfield.
The red card was issued for an infringement of Law 9.20(a) (a player must not charge into a ruck or maul; charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul) and 9.20 (b) (a player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders), when, in the 64th minute of the match, he made contact with the Wales prop forward, Wyn Jones.
Mr. Fagerson accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card.
The Disciplinary Committee, which comprised David Hurley (Ireland), Becky Essex (England) and Stefan Terblanche (South Africa), heard evidence and submissions from Mr Fagerson, the Scotland head coach, Gregor Townsend, and legal counsel, Bruce Caldow (as well as from Six Nations’ legal representative). The Disciplinary Committee found that Mr Fagerson had committed an act of foul play (an infringement of Law 9.20(a) and that it had warranted a red card.
The Disciplinary Committee found that the act of foul play warranted a mid-range entry point (six weeks’ suspension) and reduced that by two weeks to take account of mitigating factors (including his admission of foul play, good disciplinary record and remorse).
Mr Fagerson is therefore suspended for four weeks and, given his playing schedule, he will miss the three Scotland matches in the Guinness Six Nations Championship against France, Ireland and Italy, and one further match to be determined. He was reminded of his right of appeal.