Ford and Gray banned for remainder of World Cup

Edinburgh hooker Ford, from Kelso, and Glasgow lock Gray were cited by independent commissioner Scott Nowland of Australia for a second-half incident during the 36-33 Pool B win over Samoa at St James’ Park.

Scotland’s task of knocking over in-form Australia in this weekend’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final has become tougher after two of their best forwards were suspended.

Both men are vital members of the Scottish pack and head coach Vern Cotter will be loath to lose either of them for the Dark Blues’ first World Cup quarter-final in eight years at Twickenham.

Their hearing will take place in London on Tuesday morning and will be heard by English lawyer Christopher Quinlan.

World Rugby’s statement on the case said: “Tackles involving a player being lifted off the ground and tipped horizontally, and were then either forced or dropped to the ground, must be dealt with severely by match officials and all those involved in the disciplinary process”.

With respect to the sanction, the Judicial Officer deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point, namely four weeks.

All appointments of citing commissioners for the pool games were made before the tournament started, and there seems to have been no concern about the possibility that a commissioner would examine a match that might include a future opponent of his own country.

But after an exhaustive wait for their fate to be decided yesterday, which were decided by independent Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC, the hugely controversial punishment will see the SRU contemplate an appeal and the clock is ticking on their 48 hour timeline to do so.

The Judicial Officer considered that there were no aggravating factors.