Haydn Morgan

For the English cricket player, see Haydn Morgan (cricketer).

Haydn Morgan
Birth nameHaydn Joseph Morgan[1]
Date of birth(1936-07-30)30 July 1936
Place of birthOakdale, Wales
Date of death20 July 2018(2018-07-20) (aged 81)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2]
Weight13 st 7 lb (189 lb; 86 kg)
SchoolNewbridge Grammar School
SpouseBetty Morgan
Occupation(s)paratrooper[3]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Oakdale RFC
Trinant RFC
Abertillery RFC
Army XV
Bicester RUFC
Barbarian F.C.		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1958–1966
1959–1962		 Wales[4]
British Lions[5]		 27
4		 (9)
(0)

Haydn Morgan (30 July 1936 – 20 July 2018)[6] was a Welsh international flanker who played club rugby for Abertillery and Bicester Rugby Union Football Club. He was awarded twenty-seven caps for Wales and toured with Ronnie Dawson's 1959 and Arthur Smith's 1962 British Lions squads. Although a reliable and dynamic player with a heavy, but clean tackle, Morgan suffered at the hands of the selectors often dropped for players who never showed any international longevity.[2]

Morgan first played with Abertillery at the age of 18 at centre, but when called up for National Service he switched to wing-forward while playing for the army.

While garrisoned at MOD Bicester, he asked if he could run out for Bicester Rugby Union Football Club and, with tough selection in those days, was selected to play for the 2nd XV. He wore skipper Ken Haddock's shirt and went on to score two tries. He continued to play for Bicester and played for both club and country (Wales) on successive Saturdays in 1958. Within two years of first wearing a Bicester jersey, he was also called up for duty with the British Lions in 1959 and then again in 1962.[7]

On his return from the army he once again joined the ranks of Abertillery and came to prominence during the joint Abertillery/Ebbw Vale team that faced the touring Australians.

International matches played


Wales[8]

Bibliography

  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
  • Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

References

  1. ^ Newport Gwent Dragon player profile Archived 2011-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Thomas (1979), pg 142.
  3. ^ Smith (1980), pg 365.
  4. ^ Welsh Rugby Union[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ scrum.com player profile
  6. ^ "Former Wales flanker Morgan dies at 81". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Club History".
  8. ^ Smith (1980), pg 469.