Scotland respond to World Rugby's misconduct charges over Typhoon Hagibis comments

Scotland have issued a response to World Rugby’s statement regarding comments made about the potential cancellation of their fixture against Japan on Sunday due to Typhoon Hagibis.

Scotland Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson hit out at World Rugby last week amid plans to cancel Scotland’s final pool match had the typhoon, which left 74 dead and 12 missing, made the Yokohama Stadium unsafe for action.

Dodson threatened legal action against the game’s global governing body if the match didn’t come to fruition.

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Three matches between New Zealand and Italy, England and France, and Canada and Namibia, which were scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, were all cancelled as a result of the havoc that the typhoon wreaked, but World Cup organisers managed to stage the Scotland-Japan clash following the passing of the storm in Yokohama.

The Scots needed to win to keep their tournament hopes alive, but, as it transpired, Japan ran out 28-21 victors in an enthralling encounter to secure their place in the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history.

The result meant Scotland finished in third place in Pool A, five points shy of qualification into the quarter-finals, which equalled their worst-ever finish at a World Cup.

A re-shuffle in the backline could hold the key to the Wallabies tipping up England in Oita this weekend, writes @ArgyleSport #RWC2019 #ENGvAUS https://t.co/srTjiRqmWi

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2019

World Rugby said on Tuesday that it had “issued misconduct charges against the Scottish Rugby Union in relation to recent comments made about Typhoon Hagibis and its potential impact on the Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool A match between Japan versus Scotland.

“The case will be decided by an Independent Disputes Committee and Rugby World Cup will not make any further comment on this matter pending the outcome.”

In response to World Rugby’s statement, an SRU spokesperson said on Wednesday: “Scottish Rugby once again expresses its sincere condolences to the people of Japan and all those affected by Typhoon Hagibis which struck last weekend.

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“We have been able to convey our best wishes directly to the Mayor of Yokohama and the chairman of the Japanese Rugby Union. We stand with the great people of Japan.

“Following receipt of correspondence yesterday from World Rugby, Scottish Rugby confirms that it has received a notice of complaint from Rugby World Cup Ltd. Scottish Rugby is querying whether the matter is an appropriate one for the bringing of misconduct charges.

“If misconduct proceedings are to proceed, Scottish Rugby looks forward to receiving a fair hearing in this matter. No further comment would be appropriate at this time.”

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