Ivor Morgan

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Ivor Morgan


caption =
birthname = William Ivor Morgan [ [http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/history_browser_view.php?image_id=460 Swansea RFC player profile] ]
nickname =
birthyear = 1884
birthmonth = 08
birthday = 15
placeofbirth = Haverfordwest, Wales
deathyear = 1943
deathmonth = 12
deathday = 10
placeofdeath = Blackpill, Wales
height = 5 ft. 10½ ins.Thomas (1979), pg 52.]
weight =
ru_position = Forward
ru_amateuryears = 1875-1887
ru_amateurclubs = Swansea RFC
ru_amclubcaps =
ru_amclubpoints =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Wales [ [http://www.wru.co.uk/12750_14256.php?player=26161&includeref=dynamic Welsh Rugby Union player profiles] ]
ru_nationalyears = 1908-1914
ru_nationalcaps = 13
ru_nationalpoints = (18)
ru_ntupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other =
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school =
university =
url =

Ivor Morgan (15 August, 1885-10 December 1943) was a Welsh international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Swansea.

Club career

Morgan joined Swansea in 1905, but found it difficult to break into the side as his favourite position of wing-forward was taken by Swansea stalwarts Scrine and Hayward. Fortunately for Morgan, he was an all-round forward and gained positional play off the wing. Playing alongside one of rugby's true innovators, Dicky Owen, Morgan adapted a new style of wing play. Normally Owen would play in partnership with Dick Jones, but during this period Jones was suffering a long term injury and Morgan developed a natural understanding of Owen's play, and through this became a prolific try scorer. In 1905, Morgan was chosen to play in the Newport team against the touring New Zealand All Blacks. The game that made Morgan as an international player was his club performance in 1908, when he was at the centre of excellent play against the Australians, in which Swansea won 6-0. In the 1908/09 season, Morgan scored 18 tries for Swansea, this record would last for 77 years.

International career

In 1908, Morgan was chosen to play for Wales against a touring Australian team. Morgan was an unpopular choise, but Cardiff's Billy Neill had switched to the professional league game and has left a position to fill. In a tough game, Wales won 9-6 in which Morgan played well. He was selected for the next year's Home Nations Championship, and in a team that contained not only Owen, but also Billy Bancroft and Billy Trew, Wales beat England 8-0. In the next year's tournament, Morgan played all three games, including the newly introduced French team, against whom Morgan scored two tries. Morgan would play 13 matches in total for Wales, scoring a total of six tries, and lifting the Triple Crown in 1911. Due to strategic formation changes by the Welsh selectors, Morgan was dropped in 1912 and was sorely missed in the game against England when Wales were beaten fairly easily.Thomas (1979), pg 53.]

"International matches played"
WalesSmith (1980), pg 469.]
* Australia 1908
* England 1909, 1910, 1911
* France1909, 1910, 1911
* Ireland 1909, 1910, 1911
* Scotland 1909, 1910, 1912

Bibliography

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References