Skinner ruled out of Rugby World Cup

By Mark Stevens
27/8/19

Scotland lock Sam Skinner will miss the Rugby World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's win over France.

The Exeter Chiefs forward had a scan immediately after limping off during the 17-14 win at BT Murrayfield - and it has been decided that he would not recover quickly enough to "play a meaningful part" in the tournament in Japan.

Glasgow Warriors second row Tim Swinson will join up with the training group as cover, before head coach Gregor Townsend names his final squad on September 3.

Swinson has made 38 appearances for the national team, the most recent against Argentina in last summer, and can also cover the back-row.

And, while Skinner will miss at least four weeks, Scotland's assistant coach Danny Wilson has not ruled out him being given a late summons to Japan once the tournament has started.

"Hopefully Sam will return as quickly as possible and in five or six weeks, depending on injuries [to other players], we'll have a fit body to look at," Wilson said. "But that's not for me to decide the time frame, that will come from the physios."