Haydn Morgan

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]

Haydn Morgan

Birth name	Haydn Joseph Morgan[1]
Date of birth	30 July 1936
Place of birth	Oakdale, Wales
Date of death	20 July 2018 (aged 81)
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2]
Weight	13 st 7 lb (189 lb; 86 kg)
School	Newbridge Grammar School
Spouse	Betty 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. () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1958–1966 1959–1962 Wales[4] British Lions[5] 27 4 (9) (0)

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]

•  England 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966
•  France 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966
•  Ireland 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966
•  Scotland 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966
•  New Zealand 1959
•  Australia 1966

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. Thomas (1979), pg 142.
3. Smith (1980), pg 365.
4. Welsh Rugby Union
5. scrum.com player profile
6. https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/44931152
7. https://bicesterrufc.rfu.club/club-history
8. Smith (1980), pg 469.