'Get us the **** out of here' - Cardiff player's deleted URC tweet causes stir
A deleted tweet by Cardiff Rugby’s Matthew Morgan – in which he heavily criticised the URC – has caused quite the stir on social media.
Morgan, who was among a number of Cardiff players caught up in the URC’s ongoing South Africa fiasco, which appears to be drawing to a close nearly a week after the country was put on the UK’s red list.
Cardiff yesterday confirmed that a travelling party of 42 players and staff are due to fly out of Cape Town today [Thursday, December 2nd]. All of that group have returned negative coronavirus tests, but an additional six individuals who tested positive for Covid-19 have been transferred to a South African quarantine hotel.
A 10-day period of quarantine on arrival in the United Kingdom means that the 28 players and 14 staff members leaving South Africa can play no part in the European fixtures.
However Morgan is clearly not happy with how the situation is being handled by the competition, the latest iteration of the PRO14.
Morgan tweeted: “What a shambles of a league the URC is. Shocking they dragged us out to South Africa in the first place and can’t even fly us home. And the Welsh government is getting more of a joke day by day. GET US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE YOU CLOWNS.”
The tweet was eventually removed, but not before it has been given significant exposure on Twitter.
While there was some sympathy for the frustrating situation Morgan and his fellow players have found themselves in, many were taken by surprise at his clear contempt for the URC.
South African journalist AP Cronje wrote: “Don’t care what you think of the situation, this is absolutely not on. Not by a long long way. Shocking they ‘dragged’ you out?? To a country with less than 1/10th of the daily cases? *Before* the new variant was sequenced? For a competition you’re contracted and paid to play in?”
Don’t care what you think of the situation, this is absolutely not on. Not by a long long way. Shocking they ‘dragged’ you out?? To a country with less than 1/10th of the daily cases? *Before* the new variant was sequenced? For a competition you’re contracted and paid to play in? pic.twitter.com/FPP761vE2i
— A-P Cronjé (@rugby_ap) December 2, 2021
Welsh journalist Robert Rees wrote: “Bit of an odd post that from Matthew Morgan. Blaming the government fair enough, but don’t get the league point he’s making. *whips out #ItsthePro12sfault*”
Bit of an odd post that from Matthew Morgan.
Blaming the government fair enough, but don't get the league point he's making.
*whips out #ItsthePro12sfault* https://t.co/Keij8FiWLp
— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) December 2, 2021
Others backed the former Wales star. Popular Cardiff Rugby fan account: “FWIW I absolutely back the deleted Matthew Morgan tweet. “It was entirely predictable that pushing inter-continental travel during a global pandemic would lead to some sort of chaos, it was spoken about all through the Rainbow Cup and the delayed fixtures announcement.”
FWIW I absolutely back the deleted Matthew Morgan tweet.
It was entirely predictable that pushing inter-continental travel during a global pandemic would lead to some sort of chaos, it was spoken about all through the Rainbow Cup and the delayed fixtures announcement.
— Cardiff Rugby Life (@CardiffRugbyWeb) December 2, 2021
The saga has certainly thrown a spanner in the works a number of the involved URC sides’ plans to compete in the Heinkeen Champions Cup on the weekend of December 11th.
Cardiff DoR Dai Young has said the region would “do everything in our power” to play their Heineken Champions Cup games against Toulouse and Harlequins.
“Anyone from this trip will be ineligible to face Toulouse and Quins, but we have got a number of internationals back home and we will do everything in our power to honour these fixtures,” Young told Cardiff’s official website.
“The team will be made up of the internationals who haven’t come with us and some of our best academy players.
“I am confident they will do the jersey proud, but we need the Cardiff support to get right behind us.
“Gruff Rees will lead the team and he will be assisted by Thomas Rhys Thomas and Richie Rees, who remained in Cardiff to coach those not travelling.
“I know they and the boys will want to do it for the boys in quarantine. We will be watching from our rooms, and it will be a real boost if we see a packed Arms Park.
“They will be supporting the boys, those of us in isolation and the club during what has been the most stressful and challenging period I have experienced as a director of rugby.”
– additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments