Kearney escapes red card for reckless challenge on Stuart Hogg

Ireland and Leinster full back Rob Kearney received a yellow card for a challenge in the the air on Glasgow’s Stuart Hogg during Saturday’s Pro 14 final.

The Scotland international’s head made contact with the ground as he landed but referee Nigel Owens said Hogg’s shoulder and neck made first contact with the turf, meaning a yellow card was sanctioned rather than a red.

The incident came in the 66th minute of the match and therefore a red card would have only kept Kearney off the pitch a further four minutes, but some Glasgow fans may have felt a sense of injustice at Celtic Park.

Rob Kearney receives a yellow card for this challenge on Stuart Hogg!

Should it have been a red?! 😬#GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/pSGBn75bpY

— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) May 25, 2019

The game finished 15-18 to Leinster, meaning the Irish province defended their title to lift the Pro 14 trophy for the sixth time.

Here is some of the best reaction to the incident:

How’s this not a red card for Rob Kearney? Hogg lands on his head yet Nigel Owens only gives a yellow? https://t.co/CnZJoi7jqO

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) May 25, 2019

Rob Kearney is one of the greatest exponents of fielding the high ball in the modern game, but he got that all kinds of wrong and is blessed that Hogg’s landing wasn’t worse.

— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) May 25, 2019

Rob Kearney takes Stuart Hogg out in the air. Stuart Hogg lands on his head. Rob Kearney is shown a yellow card.

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) May 25, 2019

Rob Kearney of Leinster … #pro14final pic.twitter.com/5cKh7eHPjt

— Stewart Weir (@sweirz) May 25, 2019

“I think it is a red card, and Leinster might have got away with one.”@lukefitz11 thinks referee Nigel Owens’ decision to show Rob Kearney a yellow rather than a red card might have been the decisive moment of tonight’s #GuinnessPRO14 final. pic.twitter.com/PvZtPz51lj

— eir Sport (@eirSport) May 25, 2019

65 mins Rob Kearney of Leinster lucky not to be red carded for taking Stuart Hogg out in the air . A yellow card given to him by Nigel Owens was the wrong decision. Dreadful call by “the best ref in the world.”

— Rob Robertson (@SDM_Robertson) May 25, 2019