Barclay succumbs to drinking injury

Scotland flank John Barclay will miss Scotland's Six Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday due to the freak hand injury at a dinner party at the weekend.

Scotland flank John Barclay will miss Scotland's Six Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday after picking up a freak injury at a dinner party at the weekend.

The Glasgow star needed nine stitches in hand after a friend sat on a glass he was holding.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden delayed a decision on Barclay's involvement when announcing his team, but came to the conclusion after a further training session that the 21-year-old would have to miss the Dublin game.

“It's pretty straightforward,” said Hadden of Barclay's odd injury.

“He was having dinner with friends, holding his glass in his hand on a chair when someone sat on the glass.

“Sadly, there was no damage to the other person's rear end – the only cut was to John's finger.”

Allister Hogg will feature at number seven in Barclay's absence, with Kelly Brown at number eight and uncapped Edinburgh flank Ross Rennie, 21, named on the bench.

“It's bad luck for John and we wish him a speedy recovery,” said Hadden.

“While the door closes for one, it opens for another.

“It's a golden opportunity for Ross Rennie who has consistently put his hand up and demanded to be considered by the quality of his performances.”

Scotland (finalised): 15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), 14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys), 13 Simon Webster (Edinburgh), 12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), 11 Rory Lamont (Sale Sharks), 10 Chris Paterson (Gloucester), 9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh, captain), 8 Kelly Brown (Glasgow), 7 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), 6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), 5 Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), 4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan), 3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), 2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh), 1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), 17 Gavin Kerr (Edinburgh), 18 Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), 19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), 20 Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), 21 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), 22 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)

Date: Saturday, 23 February
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official: Romain Poite (France)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)