We don’t often see a contrite George Hook.
Hook, and most pundits for that matter, attain so much of their success through their willingness to back their own opinions to the hilt and not wilt under pressure from those in disagreement.
But sometimes, when you’re wrong, you’re wrong.
Hook revealed an admirably apologetic side during an interview with Ryan Tubridy on Friday night’s Late Late Show.
The 74-year-old expressed a desire to apologise to Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton after last week threatening to sue Sexton for bringing his integrity into question regarding comments made by Sexton that hit back at Hook’s suggestion that he should consider retirement due to the frequency of his head injuries.
“He thinks I should have retired when I was 21,” Sexton told the Irish Times. “He’s still in the O’Gara camp even though Rog has retired.
“Look, what can you say to that? I don’t know if he actually believes that. You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt, and people have to promote themselves, they have to sell papers. People look after themselves at the end of the day.”
Solicitors acting on Hook’s behalf sent a letter to Leinster addressed to Sexton which, according to the Times, reads as follows.
‘[The Sexton feature] very clearly questions our client’s integrity and objectivity; that our client does not believe what he writes or broadcasts about nor cares about the accuracy and that he is generating controversy over player welfare, including yours, from brain trauma arising from concussion in order to further his own career and to sell newspapers.’
But, judging by his comments on RTÉ One last night, Hook clearly regrets taking the route he did.
“Johnny, in an interview, said that when I talk about brain damage in rugby I don’t believe what I say and I say it to sell newspapers,” Hook told Ryan Tubridy.
“That strikes [at] the very integrity of what I do.
“Do I regret what I did? I absolutely regret what I did . . . When you are angry, when you are hurt and when you are offended you should really count up to 10. I didn’t get past one
“I struck out because I felt it was against everything I hold dear.”
The former Connacht and U.S.A. coach also revealed that he intends to offer Sexton a personal apology when the pair cross paths.
“If I meet him I will apologise to him,” he said.
“I’ll apologise to him, to you. I don’t have a problem with that.”
