EDINBURGH FLANKER JAMIE Ritchie will belatedly join Scotland’s World Cup squad in Japan after recovering from a facial injury.
The 23-year-old stayed behind when his team-mates flew to the Far East on Monday after sustaining a deep wound to his face during last Friday’s 36-9 final warm-up win over Georgia at Murrayfield.
Ritchie underwent further specialist assessment but the Scottish Rugby Union says he is fit enough to travel and will join the rest of the squad at their training camp in Nagasaki on Thursday.
The former Scottish U20 captain started four of Scotland’s five games in this year’s Guinness Six Nations.
Magnus Bradbury, who was called up as a temporary replacement, will remain with the squad in Japan as precautionary injury cover ahead of Scotland’s pool opener with Ireland on 22 September.
Japan, Samoa and Russia are Scotland and Ireland’s other Pool A opponents.
With the warm-up games out of the way, Murray, Bernard and Gavan discuss the renewed cause for optimism, impressive individual player form, and a potential quarter-final versus either South Africa or New Zealand.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
