Dr Teddy Morgan – Agent’s Row, Abernant Edward "Teddy" Morgan (22 May 1880 – 1 September 1949) was a Welsh international rugby union player. He was a member of the winning Welsh team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks and is remembered for scoring the winning try. He played club rugby for London Welsh and Swansea RFC. Morgan had moved to London from Newport in 1902 to take up a post at Guy's Hospital in London, where he took up playing with the Welsh exiles, London Welsh. It was while playing in London that Morgan earned his first international call up against England. Morgan's career with Wales saw him score 14 tries from the wing, but his most well remembered was the try he scored against the Original All Blacks in 1905. In the monumental match between the unbeaten All Blacks and the Triple Crown-winning Welsh team, Morgan is believed to have led the his team in singing the Welsh national anthem in response to the New Zealanders' haka. This was the first time a national anthem had been sung at a sporting event. During a strongly contested game, a single score decided the game. In the twenty-fifth minute, Welsh scrum half Dicky Owen released the ball to Cliff Pritchard, who received the ball at ankle level before darting forward. Having passed by Bob Dean, Pritchard released to Rhys Gabe who in turn found Morgan. Morgan dummied George Gillett and touched the ball down in the corner.
MORGAN, EDWARD (‘E.T. ’; 1880-1949), rugby player; b. 22 May 1880 at Aber-nant, Cynon valley, Glam., and educated at Christ College Brecon and Guy's Hospital, London. Dr ‘Teddy’ (thus ‘E.T.’) Morgan scored the most historic try in the history of the game in Wales, if not the most remarkable one ever. It was his try which secured a 3-0 win for Wales over the All Blacks of New Zealand in Cardiff on 16 Dec. 1905. Not only was he exceptionally fast but he could deceive his opponents with a skilful dummy pass and sidestep. He could tackle and kick well. He came to the notice of the national selectors when he scored three tries for Newport against Blackheath in Oct. 1901. He is usually associated with the London Welsh and Guy's Hospital. He scored 14 tries in his 16 international matches between 1902 and 1908. ‘E.T.’ and William Morris Llewellyn (Pen-y-graig), a fellow-pupil at Christ College, formed the best partnership ever seen on the wings for Wales. In 1904 he scored in every international match and went on tour to Australia and New Zealand with the British team. He played against South Africa in 1906. He d. 1 Sept. 1949 in North Walsham, Norfolk. His brother WILLIAM LLEWELLYN MORGAN (9 Mar. 1884-11 Apr. 1960) played rugby for Wales in 1910, as did his nephew William Guy Morgan, 1927-30. http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-MORG-EDW-1880.html
Snippets * * Morgan became a General Practitioner in Sketty, Swansea before moving to a new practice in East Anglia. While at Sketty, another international rugby player joined his practice in the early 1920s, D Bertram, who would go on to be capped 11 times for Scotland. * In 2008, Morgan was celebrated by the local council when it was decided to raise a blue plaque at his birthplace to commemorate his life.
In October, 1938 he apparently lost the sight in his right eye as a result of a shooting accident. He took over the captaincy of the 1904 Lions tour when Bedell-Sivright was injured.
The jersey that he wore in the 1905 game against New Zealand is on display in the Cardiff Athletic Club museum at Cardiff Arms Park. What strikes you about it when you see it is how small it is. I don't think my 12 year old son would fit into it. If that jersey came up for auction I think it would propbably sell for £10,000+
Thanks for that Robco ...... seems he wasn't the only one to have a shooting accident after the war .... wonder why if they were just compliacant about the guns .... ?? That Cardiff Athletic Club museum sounds like an interesting place .... is there a lot there to see there ?
There are some wonderful rugby treasures at the Cardiff Rugby Club museum. Always worth a visit if you are ever in the Welsh capital..
Next time I'm in England and Wales ... I'll have to make the effort and go and look ! Do you have any photos Robco ?
