The URC has ruled that Luke Morgan’s challenge on Ethan Hooker didn’t meet the card threshold, leaving the Sharks star sidelined for months while Morgan remains free to play. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The citing commissioner in the Sharks versus Ospreys game last week, has closed the case on the Ethan Hooker-Luke Morgan incident after ruling there was no wrongdoing on the part of the Welsh wing.
On the night of the match, the Sharks management asked the commissioner to investigate an alleged late tackle by Morgan on Hooker when the latter had scored a try. Hooker suffered a dislocated shoulder.
A source at the United Rugby Championship (URC) told Independent Media that, “The citing officer involved reviewed the incident and found that it did not meet the red (or yellow) card threshold.
“There has been a lot of public discourse about the fixture, and while we certainly understand there are heightened opinions in these circumstances, we must respect the processes that are in place.”
Morgan is free to play for his club this weekend against Cardiff, while Hooker is back in Durban, where medical experts are discussing the best way to fix an injury that will keep him out of the game for an estimated three to four months.
The incident occurred at the end of the first half. After collecting a brilliant offload from Vincent Tshituka, Hooker accelerated from his own 22 to the opposite try line. Morgan gave chase but failed to stop the score. However, Morgan then unnecessarily dived onto Hooker after the try was grounded, causing the injury.
The incident has caused a furore in South Africa, where rugby fans are outraged that the officials saw no need to take action against Morgan.
While the TMO checked the legitimacy of the try regarding a potential knock-on in the build-up, Scottish officials Mike Adamson (referee) and Andrew McMenemy (TMO) did not discuss Morgan’s perceived late, armless challenge on the prone player. Now the citing commissioner, Stuart Scott, has agreed with the match officials.
Further stoking the ire of South Africans fans is Morgan’s apparent lack of remorse. Instead, he has defended his action, described by an online critic as a “dogshot”.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Morgan responded to that comment with: “He clearly hasn’t scored until the ball is grounded, there for (sic) because the ball wasn’t grounded means the ball is still in play and I am fully legal to make that tackle, so you might want to think again about that one.”
In response to another comment, which read: “You should be banned for as long as Ethan Hooker is out. Scumbag”. Morgan replied: “And you should go bore someone else with a silly little comment like that”.
Meanwhile, Ospreys coach Mark Jones has defended Morgan. He told the BBC, “I have been sent stuff that Luke has had to deal with, as well as his family.
“It's a disgrace if people are going to target sportsmen around incidents on a sports field and make it personal.
“Luke Morgan is a competitive guy. He's chasing back as hard as he can for his team in what was a tight game. He's done his utmost to do what we ask players to do, which is not give up until the ball is grounded.”
Jones added sympathy for Hooker.
“Hooker is a great player, and unfortunately, he got injured in that incident, but there's no malice in that challenge. He is a top-quality player, and we hope he won't be out of the game for too long – but Luke was just trying his best for his team.”