Walker World Cup verdict next week

Scotland international Nikki Walker is set to discover his rugby World Cup fate next week.

The Borders wing was the surprise inclusion in Ian McGeechan’s World Cup squad which was announced on Tuesday.

But the 21-year-old is due to appear before Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 24 on two charges of assault.

Walker was arrested in February after alleged incidents inside and outside the Ewe and Lamb public house in Hawick.

But the date for the appearance is just a day before the crucial World Cup group match against France in Australia and before they face Fiji on November 1.

However, Jedburgh Procurator Fiscal, Graham Fraser, is waiting for an application from Walker’s legal team for a change of date for the Court appearance.

Fraser said: “My understanding is that his solicitors will be making an application to the Court to have a new date assigned.

“That will probably be next week although there is no actual date yet.”

Walker was recalled to the full international squad earlier this week ahead of Rory Kerr and Simon Webster.

The Borders player had been dropped to the Under-21 squad ahead of the RBS Six Nations earlier this year despite impressing in the autumn Test series.

But McGeechan insisted earlier this week that the 21-year-old had made sufficient progress to merit his inclusion in the 30-man squad for the World Cup next month.