Tappe Henning: Match officials 'put on notice' after Hooker incident
It is not often a refereeing boss publicly’ points out an ‘error’ by match officials, let alone putting them on notice.
However, the United Rugby Championship’s Head of Match Officials, Tappe Henning, revealed that the officials involved in the infamous Ethan Hooker-Luke Morgan incident last month have come under scrutiny for one of this year’s most egregious incidents.
The Sharks and Springbok utility back, Hooker, suffered a dislocated shoulder during his team’s URC loss (17-21) to Ospreys at the Brewery Field in Bridgend last month.
The injury occurred after he scored a try, just before half-time, as Luke Morgan dangerously dove on him after the Sharks flyer had already scored the try.
Hooker underwent surgery and is expected to be sidelined for roughly three to four months, putting his availability for the international season in doubt.
The Sharks’ management asked the citing commissioner to investigate the late tackle by Morgan on Hooker.
The citing commissioner eventually reviewed the tackle, but determined the action did not meet the ‘red card threshold’.
The incident sparked a major outcry and attracted comments from many highly-placed officials.
Respected former Test referee Nigel Owens said he believed that Morgan should have been penalised for his cheap shot on Hooker.
(WATCH as URC Head of Match Officials, Tappe Henning, explains why match officials were put on notice after the infamous Ethan Hooker-Luke Morgan incident last month……)
Henning, speaking at a media round table this week, ahead of the URC play-offs, said the match officials – Scotland referee Mike Adamson, his assistants Craig Evans and Marcus Caudle (both Wales), as well as Scottish TMO Andrew McMenemy – were put on notice.
“It was agreed by the [refereeing] selectors group, and shared with the match officials, that we expected them to review [the incident],” Henning said of the usual post-match review of match official performances.
Henning added that “a yellow card would have been an appropriate on-field sanction” for Morgan.
“The player was late in trying to defend his goal line,” the URC referee boss said, adding: “Diving onto a player is unacceptable.”
Henning said the seriousness of the injury (a dislocated shoulder that will sideline him for months) was not known at the time, and the match officials could only look at the action of the offending player, Morgan.
“We are not involved in how serious the injury is, and that does not impact the sanction,” Henning said.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
