Hotel accident ends Scotland hooker’s Rugby World Cup dreams

Scotland have been forced to make a change to their Rugby World Cup squad after Dave Cherry suffered a concussion in an accident at the team hotel.

The unfortunate incident took place on Monday as the 32-year-old Edinburgh front-rower slipped down the stairs at the hotel on a day off and hurt his head.

Cherry is now following return-to-play protocols, which means he will be unavailable for at least the next 12 days, so Scotland have brought in a replacement.

Stuart McInally called in

Taking Cherry’s position in Scotland’s squad will be hooker Stuart McInally, who only recently announced he would be retiring following the global tournament.

However, that retirement call was accelerated after he missed out on the initial 33-man squad that head coach Gregor Townsend named for the Rugby World Cup.

McInally was skipper at the 2019 tournament in Japan and was already on standby for the side after fellow hooker Ewan Ashman suffered a concussion last week.

His inclusion has finally been confirmed but in place of Cherry, who came off the bench in Scotland’s tough 18-3 loss to South Africa in their opening Pool B game.

“Hugely disappointed”

“I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving the squad with concussion,” Cherry told Scottish Rugby, with Ashman on track to be available for the next clash with Tonga.

“I’ve loved my time in camp over the summer and gaining my first World Cup cap on Sunday.

“I want to wish the team all the best for the remainder of the competition.”

Scotland’s upcoming Rugby World Cup meeting against Tonga is set to take place in Nice on Sunday, September 24 as they look to bounce back from that defeat to the Springboks.

Following what promises to be a tricky fixture against the islanders, Townsend’s charges will tackle Romania (September 30) before taking on Ireland (October 7).

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