Glasgow flanker Ryan Wilson has been suspended without pay for three months after being found guilty of assault.
But the 25-year-old has been allowed to cling on to his World Cup dream after the Scottish Rugby Union announced he would be banned from international duty until August 23rd, clearing him to play in the tournament which kicks-off four weeks later.
Wilson was fined £750 (€1,000) after he attacked two Glasgow Hawks players in a fast-food shop.
Charges against Warriors team-mates Ryan Grant and Rory Hughes were not proven.
After being hauled before a three-man disciplinary panel, Wilson was told he had been “suspended with immediate effect, without pay, from training with, and playing for, Glasgow Warriors for a period of three months”.
The nine-cap forward had earlier told his trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court that he had already been fined a week’s wages. His latest punishment will now cost him a sum in the region of €33,000.
Wilson has also been ordered by SRU bosses to take part in a programme that will “support his personal development around the factors which contributed to the original conviction”. Although it has been made clear he does not have issues with drinking, it is expected that an element of that scheme will focus on alcohol awareness.
But Aldershot-born Wilson has been told he could still feature for Scotland at this year’s World Cup in England.
The disciplinary panel has ruled he “will not be invited to play for the Scotland national team until August 23”.
He will miss the entire Six Nations campaign – which begins for the Scots in Paris on Saturday – as well as World Cup warm-up clashes Ireland and Italy on August 15th and August 22nd.
He might, however, be allowed to to train with Vern Cotter's squad ahead of the tournament, but only after the Six Nations has been completed.
A spokesman for the SRU said: “In accordance with Scottish Rugby’s standard disciplinary procedures Ryan Wilson has the right to appeal against the panel’s findings.
“Scottish Rugby will make no further comment at this time.”
