Cliff Morgan
Wales
player portrait
Full name Clifford Isaac Morgan
Born April 7, 1930, Trebanog
Died August 29, 2013, Bembridge, Isle of Wi (aged 83 years 144 days)
Major teams British and Irish Lions, Wales
Position Fly-half
Other Commentator, Journalist, Author

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop GfM Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 1951-1958 33 33 0 12 4 0 0 0 0 21 10 2 66.66
Wales 1951-1958 29 29 0 9 3 0 0 0 0 19 8 2 68.96
British and Irish Lions 1955-1955 4 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 50
Five/Six Nations 1951-1958 27 27 0 9 3 0 0 0 0 18 7 2 70.37

Career statistics
Test debut Wales v Ireland at Cardiff, Mar 10, 1951 match details
Last Test Wales v France at Cardiff, Mar 29, 1958 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Legendary Wales fly-half Cliff Morgan won 29 caps for Wales during a career that spanned seven years during the 1950s and is often mention in the same breath as Barry John and Phil Bennett in terms of influence in the Welsh game.

He won a Grand Slam with Wales in 1952 and served Cardiff RFC as a player from 1948. He notably steered both sides to victory over New Zealand in 1953 - which is still the last time the Welsh beat the All Blacks.

He began his international career in 1951 against Ireland, where he also briefly played for Bective Rangers in Dublin, and his instincts as a game manager and attacking weapon made him an indispensable part of the Welsh set-up.

He won four caps for the British & Irish Lions during their 1955 drawn series with South Africa, scoring a try in their first Test victory at Ellis Park. Morgan was named player of the tour and made Wales captain due to his exploits before he retired from the game three years later.

After hanging up his boots, Morgan became a respected commentator, broadcaster and writer and is best remembered for his description of Gareth Edwards' try for the Barbarians against New Zealand in 1973 - considered one of the greatest tries in the history of the sport.

His commentary of the try went as follows: "Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff. Phil Bennett covering. Chased by Alistair Scown. Brilliant. Oh, that's brilliant. John Williams, Bryan Williams. Pullin. John Dawes, great dummy. To David, Tom David, the half-way line. Brilliant by Quinnell! This is Gareth Edwards. A dramatic start! What a score!"

He suffered a life-threatening stroke at the age of 42 and was afflicted with cancer of the vocal cords in later life with the subsequent removal of his larynx resulting in limited ability to speak. He died aged 83 in 2013 after long battle with the illness.

Latest Articles
An artist on the field, a poet off it (Aug 30, 2013) 'He was my idol, he was my mentor' (Aug 30, 2013) Wales great Cliff Morgan dies aged 83 (Aug 29, 2013) Rugby world pays tribute to Morgan (Aug 29, 2013) Old-style numbering, decorated All Blacks and Jarrett's debut (Apr 23, 2012) Cliff Morgan news and articles (20) »
Latest Photos
May 18, 2011
Former Wales fly-half Cliff Morgan is greeted by ex-England football Kevin Keegan
Former Wales fly-half Cliff Morgan is greeted by ex-England football Kevin Keegan
©  Getty Images
Sep 19, 1998
Former Wales fly-half Cliff Morgan celebrates a win for London Welsh
Former Wales fly-half Cliff Morgan celebrates a win for London Welsh
©  Getty Images
Jan 18, 1958
Wales pose ahead of a clash with England
Wales pose ahead of a clash with England
©  PA Photos
Aug 6, 1955
British and Irish Lions fly-half Cliff Morgan is tackled
British and Irish Lions fly-half Cliff Morgan is tackled
©  Getty Images
Cliff Morgan rugby photos (7) »

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