Scotland Rugby World Cup: Stuart McInally called into squad after Dave Cherry suffers accident slipping on stairs

Scotland have drafted Stuart McInally into their Rugby World Cup squad after fellow hooker Dave Cherry was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Stuart McInally could win his 50th cap if selected for Scotland during the World Cup.

McInally, 33, flew out to France last week as a stand-by precaution due to fitness concerns over Ewan Ashman, but it is Cherry who will be replaced after he had an accident at Scotland’s team hotel, slipping down the stairs and suffering concussion. Cherry is automatically sidelined for 12 days through rugby concussion protocols, but Scotland’s management team have decided that he will now leave the camp and McInally will be in place for the remainder of the tournament.

A statement from the Scottish Rugby Union read: “Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally has been called up into the Rugby World Cup 2023 squad to replace David Cherry who has left the tournament through injury. To ensure a full front row complement McInally, who is playing in his second Rugby World Cup, joined the Scotland squad today after initially being put on standby following a concussion sustained by Ewan Ashman last week.

“Cherry suffered a concussion after an accident in the team hotel earlier this week and is now following the current return to play protocols. This means he is unavailable for at least the next 12 days. The decision was therefore taken to end his tournament involvement on medical grounds after he injured his head on Monday, slipping on hotel stairs, on a team day off.

Cherry said: “I’m hugely disappointed to be leaving the squad with concussion. 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.”

McInally is contention to be involved when Scotland take on Tonga in their next match in Nice on Sunday, September 24. He is currently on 49 caps and plans to become a commercial pilot once the tournament ends.