Scotland coach Vern Cotter will meet the Scottish Rugby Union board today [Thursday] to discuss the future of Ryan Wilson, the Glasgow Warriors forward who earlier this week was found guilty of attacking two Glasgow Hawks players after a late-night argument in a fast-food shop.
Wilson, 25, who has played nine times for Scotland, was fined a total of £750 for punching Ally Maclay and pulling Gavin Quinn to the floor in an incident that happened in October 2013. In the wake of his conviction, the Union suspended Wilson while they considered "what further action is appropriate."
In the same trial, at Glasgow Sheriff Court, the charge of assault against Scotland and Warriors prop Ryan Grant was found not proven, as it was in the case against Warriors winger Rory Hughes.
With two other frontline No.8s sidelined by injuries at the moment, Cotter might have been tempted to call Wilson into his Six Nations squad, but it is highly improbable that the governing body would agree to such a request. It is more likely that Grant, who was left out of the training squad while the trial went on, will be allowed to return to the fold.
"I just want to see where they stand," said Cotter, who was attending the RBS 6 Nations launch in London. "I have not had an opportunity to talk to anybody yet. I will meet with the board to see how they see things moving forward.
Asked specifically if he would recall Grant, so long as the Board agreed, Cotter said: "I would sit down and have a look at it."
With Scotland's Six Nations opener against France just nine days away, Cotter said that he was happy with the progress Stuart Hog has made in his recovery from a hamstring injury. He also indicated that he would not seek to call up another player to cover for Sean Maitland, who was ruled out by a shoulder problem on Tuesday.
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