Conor Murray is set to miss this weekend's URC semi-final against Leinster, after a dangerous tackle from Glasgow man Tom Jordan forced him off for a HIA in last week's quarter-final.
The Munster scrum-half was hit hard by Jordan, whose shoulder crashed into Murray's head while the Munster man was travelling at speed down the sideline. Murray was floored by the hit and eventually went off for a head injury assessment - from which he did not return.
Jordan was sent off for the tackle - but the URC's disciplinary panel have decided the length of his suspension, and Munster fans will not be happy.
The farcical suspension sees Jordan banned for only five weeks, and the panel had some questionable findings on the effects of the tackle on Conor Murray.
Glasgow man gets bizarre suspension for reckless Conor Murray tackle
The footage of Tom Jordan's hit on Conor Murray was not a pretty sight, and Murray will now miss Munster's huge journey to Dublin to face Leinster in the URC semi-final as a result.
Glasgow lose out-half Tom Jordan, who sees red for this reckless tackle on Conor Murray. #RTERugby #RTESport #GLAvMUN
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📱 https://t.co/67djYrIcGW pic.twitter.com/W2obHgNbNH— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) May 6, 2023
The URC's disciplinary panel strangely found after their investigation of the tackle that it had not been reckless, and that Murray had not been injured. Judging by the fact Murray not only failed to return to the field of play last Saturday, but also misses another game this week as a result of the tackle, it's hard to see how it was adjudged that he had not been injured.
Jordan's suspension was reduced from ten weeks to five for the following mitigation:
Including his unblemished disciplinary [record], timely guilty plea and apology to Munster no. 9.
The five-week ban could be reduced to four if Jordan completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
Jordan appears to have been genuinely apologetic about the tackle, but the length of the ban does not do justice to what was a nasty hit on Conor Murray.
It will be scant consolation to Munster fans, who will be without their scrum-half for the biggest game of their season this Saturday.
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