page revision date : 30th November 2009
County Councillor Peter Morgan graced rugby at the highest level
Current Pembrokeshire County Councillor and Cabinet Member Peter Morgan was a formidable rugby union player in his hey day, and many younger Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk readers will be surprised at his achievements.
Peter now lives with his family in Little Haven, and only last year got involved in local politics and is Councillor for The Havens, and earlier this year was co-opted onto the Cabinet as member for Communities and Partnerships as Councillor Mark Edwards stepped down.
But at least 30 years ago a young Peter Morgan broke into first-class rugby, regularly turning out for Llanelli RFC, where he played 297 appearances spanning over a decade.
How many rugby players can say that they have played for Llanelli, Wales B, Wales, Barbarians and the British & Irish Lions by the age of 21?
The only position that Peter didn’t play for Wales at senior level was scrum half, very few internationals can lay claim of playing for their country at full back, wing, centre and outside half.
Well Peter can proudly raise his hand high as he accomplished all this as many of today’s professionals can only dream of achieving.
Younger days
He is the youngest of the three brothers brought up near the seaside village of Broad Haven, seven-miles west of the county town of Haverfordwest. He was educated at Haverfordwest County Secondary Modern School (now known as Sir Thomas Picton) in the 1970s, and while under their physical education teachers the late and highly regarded Gordon Raynor and Peter Herbert (later became a fitness and conditioning coach with Llanelli RFC and Wales) his rugby skills developed rapidly.
Throughout his school days he played outside half with distinction for Pembrokeshire Schools at every age group.
On leaving school the talented fly half played for Haverfordwest Youth and Pembrokeshire Youth and caught the eye of the Welsh Youth selectors. Peter deservedly gained his first international youth cap in a 4-0 defeat against France Youth, which was played at St Helen’s Ground, home of Swansea RFC in the spring of 1977.
The only try of the international was a brilliant solo effort scored by a full back by the name of Serge Blanco, who later became a legend of the game.
Illustrious Scarlets’ career
The following year Peter began a long and illustrious career with Llanelli RFC where he went on to feature against international touring teams such as New Zealand, New Zealand Mouris, Australia, South Africa Barbarians and the likes.
Definitely his biggest highlight and proudest moment wearing a Scarlets jersey was in 1984, when he captained Llanelli to a famous 19-16 victory over Australia in front of a capacity crowd at Stradey Park. Peter was honoured with the captaincy at Llanelli RFC for two successive seasons in 1984/85 and 1985/86 seasons.
Meteoric rise to international stage
Back in those days the game was classed amateur, to say the least Peter’s rise to the top was meteoric.
Class Welsh international backs at the Scarlets was in abundance including then household names such as Phil Bennett, JJ Williams, Roy Bergiers, David Nicholas, Gary Pearce, Phil Lewis, Jonathan Griffiths, Mark Douglas and the late Ray Gravell surrounded talented Peter.
Without a shadow of doubt over that period Peter formed the best centre partnership in Welsh club rugby for quite a few seasons with Scarlets’ legend Grav.
Within six weeks of playing for Llanelli he incredibly gained selection for Wales B at centre, alongside Neil Hutchings, in a clash against Argentina that was played at Stradey Park. The skipper for the Pumas that evening was brilliant fly half Hugo Porta, he also played for Wales B at outside half against France.
That special evening on Tuesday, 17th October 1978 against the Pumas gave young Peter Morgan his first senior taste of life on the international stage.
Remarkably, he continued to make a huge impression; consistent performances for Llanelli followed and there was no big surprise when he was called into train with the full Welsh squad.
Before the 1979 season kicked-off, Peter starred alongside his elder brother Anthony, also a Wales Youth international, in helping Llanelli RFC win the coveted Snelling Sevens at the Cardiff Arms Park.
That same year he was given his first start for a Wales XV that narrowly lost at the Arms Park against an emerging Romania XV. It was a non-cap international and Peter was tried and tested at full back that afternoon.
Later that season, he fulfilled his life-long dream by winning his first full Wales senior cap as a replacement centre in the match against Scotland.
Peter was regarded as a players’ player, a rare breed who could comfortably feature anywhere along the back line, but his outstanding ability saw him tagged a ‘utility’ player, which did him no favours on the international arena.
In Wales’ centenary season of 1980-81 season he won a third cap coming on as a replacement on the wing in a defeat at the Arms Park against the mighty All Blacks, who were led by terrific flanker Graham Mourie.
Morgs tours with British & Irish Lions to South Africa
The biggest thrill in his successful career was gaining selection to tour South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in the summer of 1980, which was captained by England’s second row Bill Beaumont. Despite not featuring in any Test matches it was an experience that he still cherishes to this day. He played three games at centre, three as a winger and one as a replacement outside half such was his versatility for the Lions.
No luck of the Irish
On Saturday, March 15th 1980 Wales lost against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in the Five Nations. It was definitely a mixed day of emotions for 21-year-old.
Obviously, delighted to have been given the nod to start his first full international and win only his second cap. Peter replaced Gareth Davies (who was injured) and partnered the brilliant Terry Holmes at half back. Pontypool flanker Jeff Squire captained Wales on that fateful afternoon in Dublin. Peter’s opposite number that day was British & Irish Lions’ outside half Ollie Campbell.
Peter recalled having a torrid baptism in Wales’ starting line-up against the Irish.
“I could sense Irish fans baying for blood. Playing international rugby is so intense and reflecting back now I was really young and the Irish were so streetwise.”
Superb flanker and Irish captain Fergus Slattery also a Lions’ test player called in earshot to Peter all afternoon. “Hey Peter, I’m coming to get you. Don’t drop that the ball Peter,’ Constantly echoed words to put him under pressure.
Unfortunately, Peter had an attempted kick out of defence charged down near his own line, and hooker Ciaran Fitzgerald reacted quickest to pounce for a try.
The Welsh selectors showed no remorse and immediately dropped him from the squad and Peter was never given an opportunity to redeem himself.
That’s the harsh reality of international rugby, as quick you are up, just as quick you can get knocked back.
Best centres of era finally picked for Wales
However, on Saturday, 21st February, 1981, nearly a year later, Peter earned a deserved recall to play for Wales at centre alongside his fellow Scarlets’ team-mate Ray Gravell at Cardiff Arms Park against Ireland. Remarkably, it was the one and only time that the best centres of that era actually played together for Wales.
But the luck (no luck) of the Irish sadly struck Peter full force again. Midway through the first half he was clattered by opposite number David Irwin, quite literally receiving a hospital pass by new cap at outside half Gary Pearce, who ironically, was brought up in Laugharne, and later joined up with Peter to enjoy some terrific seasons with Llanelli after leaving Bridgend.
Peter’s international days were over when really they should have kick-started, sadly led off the pitch by Welsh trainer Jerry Lewis, in agony, and later diagnosed with a couple of broken ribs, but despite consistently performing well for the Scarlets later in his career he was never picked for Wales again. That cruel injury blow signalled the end of his international career.
Great highlights
Some great highlights still followed. Peter played for Pembrokeshire County XVs that won the Welsh Counties Cup twice in the 1980s; Trevor James coached the squad. Peter was also honoured with the captaincy at Llanelli RFC for two successive seasons. He also played in a few Welsh Cup finals, where the highlight was defeating Cardiff in 1985, before finally hanging up his boots after suffering a broken leg in a derby against Swansea at Stradey Park. Peter was given a standing ovation by Scarlets’ appreciative fans that sadly required a stretcher.
However, he did make a comeback after that horrific injury, but the spark had gone and he played his last game for the Scarlets in the April of 1988 against Aberavon.
| 
