A freak incident in the team hotel has ruled Scotland hooker Dave Cherry out of his first Rugby World Cup.
Cherry suffered a concussion on Monday – a team day off – when he slipped on some stairs while walking back to the team hotel and injured his head, Scotland said on Thursday.
Mail Sport’s sources say the hooker had had a few drinks at a family BBQ during the team’s day off but was not drunk. They added that he was taken to hospital and held overnight as a precaution.
Cherry will stay with the team until he is ready to go home. The 32-year-old Cherry played the last 25 minutes of the Scots’ opening pool match, the 18-3 loss to South Africa on Sunday, as a replacement.
In a statement, Scottish Rugby said a decision was taken to “end his tournament involvement on medical grounds” because Cherry would miss the next 12 days to follow return-to-play protocols.
Scotland hooker Dave Cherry (pictured) has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after suffering a concussion
Cherry, who plays for Edinburgh, slipped on some stairs while he was walking back to the team’s hotel
Cherry would have missed only Scotland’s second pool match, against Tonga on Sept. 24, and would likely have returned in time for Romania on Sept. 30 and Ireland on Oct. 7.
“I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving the squad with concussion,” Cherry said. “I’ve 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.”
Stuart McInally, who captained Scotland at the 2019 World Cup, has replaced Cherry in the 33-man squad.
McInally was already on standby having flown to France last week after a concussion sustained by another hooker, Ewan Ashman.
Ashman is continuing his return-to-play protocols and is on track to be available for selection next week.
McInally announced recently he will retire after the World Cup to pursue a new career as an airline pilot.