MX23RW : Saturday, October 12 14:21:26| >> :600:96201:96201:
Oct 13, 2019 at 11.45am UK
Japan
vs.
Scotland

Scotland chief vows to fight any cancellation of crucial Japan clash

Scotland chief vows to fight any cancellation of crucial Japan clash
© Reuters
World Rugby have been forced to call off two games on Saturday due to Super Typhoon Hagibis.

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson says he will not allow Scotland to become the World Cup’s “collateral damage” as he vowed to fight off any moves to cancel Sunday’s vital clash with Japan.

World Rugby has been forced to call off two games on Saturday as Super Typhoon Hagibis prepares to wreak havoc across Japan’s eastern coast.

A decision on whether the Scots’ win-or-bust final Pool A game with the hosts goes ahead will be made on the morning of the game but Dodson told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that the showdown should either be moved to an alternative venue or delayed until after the storm passes.

World Rugby has already said it will not budge on tournament rules which state pool matches can only be played on their scheduled dates but Murrayfield bosses are understood to believe clauses relating to “force majeure” measures in the competition guidelines could allow room for manoeuvre.

Dodson said: “My view is that we’re not going to let Scotland be the collateral damage for a decision that was taken in haste.

“I think there’s alternative (venues) around Japan. The point to me, we are talking about now is not whether the game will take place on Sunday, that will be a purely meteorological issue. The issue will be if it can’t take place then we’re really, really pressing the point that we need to have to get this game delayed 24 hours later.”

And Dodson confirmed the SRU are exploring legal options to ensure the game goes ahead.

He said: “The first is and most important is that we look after the safety of the general public. The second thing is for World Rugby to just simply state that the game has to be cancelled goes against the whole sporting integrity of the tournament.

“We have been preparing for this tournament now for four years, the guys have had over 100 days in camp, we’ve played games already and the fourth game in this particular case is pivotal.

“We’ve had consistent dialogue since the last three or four days around this with senior people at World Rugby, but World Rugby seem to be determined to stick to its plan that the match is either played on Sunday or indeed it is cancelled, and to have it cancelled and have our ability to progress from this group put at peril, we believe is absolutely unacceptable.

“World Rugby is pointing us back to the participation agreement. We’ve had legal opinion – from a leading QC – that challenges World Rugby’s interpretation.

“We don’t know that (it’s too late) – we have to challenge it. But we should be talking about this from a rugby perspective, this is about the game and the rugby supporters across the world are absolutely astounded at this rigidity from World Rugby. The common sense approach to this is to play the game 24 hours later on perfect safety where we can make sure that the pool stages are completed, and the sporting integrity of the tournament remains intact.”

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Mark Dodson

Click here for more stories about Scotland

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole

Rugby World Cup
Euro Champ Qualifying
Shanghai Masters Semi-Finals
Result
Tsitsipas
Medvedev
65 5
7  7
Result
Berrettini
Zverev
3 4
6 6
Super League Playoffs
International Friendlies
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Challenge Cup
Segunda Division
Eerste Divisie
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Australian A-League
Women's Super League
European Under-21 Championship Qualifying
Premiership Rugby Cup

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!