JORDAN BLOW
Glasgow star to miss Euro final after a five-week ban
GLASGOW Warriors fly-half Tom Jordan will miss the Challenge Cup final against Toulon after being handed a five-week ban.
Jordan was shown a red card for a high tackle on Conor Murray during Glasgow’s defeat to Munster in the URC quarter-finals last weekend.
Referee Andrea Piardi sent him off after judging the tackle to be high and dangerous, with no mitigation in Jordan’s defence.
The 24-year-old Kiwi accepted the act of foul play in a letter to the judicial officer and will now miss next Friday’s European showpiece against Toulon.
Jordan could have been banned for ten weeks for a top-end entry point, but this was reduced by half on account of his ‘unblemished disciplinary, timely guilty plea and apology’ to Murray.
The ban could be further reduced by a week if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, but that would come into play after next week’s final in Dublin.
Nevertheless, the disciplinary process has been widely criticised for the way it appears to have trivialised a serious head injury to Murray.
The Munster and Ireland scrum-half failed a head injury assessment (HIA) after the high tackle from Jordan and did not return to the field during last Saturday’s game at Scotstoun.
As a result, Murray has now been ruled out of the URC semi-final against Leinster this weekend.
However, in an explanation of the criteria used by the disciplinary panel, it was claimed that the tackle was ‘intentional’ but not ‘reckless’.
It also claimed that Murray wasn’t ‘injured’. This has led to criticism from Progressive Rugby, a player welfare group made up of leading medics, academics and players.
Writing on Twitter, they said: ‘No issue with ban, but a HUGE issue with brain injury not being deemed an injury under the framework here.
‘@URCOfficial you are meant to be acknowledging the seriousness of TBI (traumatic brain injury), not perpetuating the dangerous myth that if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist... Explanation please.’
As a result of failing his HIA and going through the return-to-play protocols, Murray will actually miss more games in the URC than the man who made the tackle.
Curiously, the period of Jordan’s ban has included the semi-pro Super6 Sprint Series games, even though there was very little chance of him playing in them.
Meanwhile, Glasgow full-back Josh McKay has signed a new deal with the club which will see him remain at Scotstoun until the summer of 2025.
McKay has been a good signing since arriving from his native New Zealand in late 2021, although he has been out of action recently with a foot injury.
‘In the end it was a really easy decision (to re-sign),’ said McKay, who has scored eight tries in 27 games for Glasgow.
‘I absolutely love the direction in which this club is travelling, and when I sat down and thought about what I want to do over the next couple of years, it really aligns with the vision of everyone here at Scotstoun.
‘We’ve got the freedom to play and have a go and, playing in the back three, that’s exactly what you want to hear — you want to do your bit for the team and help the group excel.
‘It certainly suits the style of rugby I love to play and I’m really excited for what comes next.
‘Glasgow’s an awesome city to be a part of, too — when I initially moved over from New Zealand, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve loved getting settled into the city.
‘We live near a lot of the boys and it’s a really good environment in which to live and work.
‘First and foremost I want to get back fully fit and firing, so the focus for me now is to get my foot right and then get ready to attack next season. I can’t wait.’
Head coach Franco Smith added: ‘We’re pleased that Josh has committed his future to us for the next couple of seasons.
‘He’s a model professional who brings a great attitude and desire to improve to every training session, and his ability to play on both the wing and at full-back is a real asset to us as a squad.
‘He comes to Scotstoun each day with a real drive to be the best version of himself that he can be and we look forward to continuing to work with him over the coming seasons.’
High tackle on Murray was ‘intentional’ but not ‘reckless’