EDINBURGH centre Mark Bennett and Glasgow Warriors prop Oli Kebble have both been suspended from playing for three weeks after being sent-off during last Friday night's 1872 Cup clash at Scotstoun.
Bennett received his red card for a high tackle on Warriors scrum-half Ali Price, while Kebble got his marching orders when he swung his arm and caught Edinburgh scrum-half Henry Pyrgos on the side of the head. The entry point for both offences was six weeks, but 50 percent reductions were applied after consideration of all the evidence, meaning the players will miss the next three meaningful matches.
That almost certainly means that the season is over for both players, unless their respective team manages to qualify for the Rainbow Cup Final.
The two sending offs occurred after a 'captain's challenge', which is one of three law variations being trialled during this Rainbow Cup.
Meanwhile, Japan have joined Australia and South Africa on Scotland’s Autumn Test schedule it has been announced, with the match scheduled to be played at Murrayfield on Saturday 20th November.
It will be the Brave Blossoms’ second appearance at the national stadium inside the space of five months because they are also set to take on the British and Irish Lions there in a pre-tour match on 26th June.
The last time Scotland faced Japan was in Yokohama at the 2019 World Cup, when the host nation booked their place in the knock-out stage of the tournament with a 28-21 victory.
Kick-off times for all three Autumn games will be confirmed in due course, with individual match tickets scheduled to go on sale in July.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here