At 81 years of age Norman Morgan has wonderful memories of his younger days in the village of Llanhilleth, where he was an outstanding rugby player who came straight out of national service to play 210 times for Newport - and earned three full Welsh caps before an awful knee injury brought an abrupt end to his playing days at the early age of 27.

Norman now lives in Haverfordwest, where he has been for the past 12 years and still enjoys watching his sport on TV - and this year was understandably delighted to be inducted into the Newport RFC 'Hall of Fame' for his splendid scoring record of 951 points, most of them from his trusty left boot.

Wonderful mementoes

"I had a wonderful time at Rodney Parade," admitted Norman, “and now my piece of cut-glass has joined my other wonderful mementoes of such an exciting time!"

These include his Welsh jersey and cap, awarded after his first game against Scotland, the French jersey he swapped with opposite number Michel Vanier, the team pictures, programmes and invitation cards he received to play for his country, plus his Monmouthshire County cap which was awarded for representing his county at least ten times. 

He also swapped shirts as a favour to a friend with a South African player and that shirt can now be found ensconced at Llanhilleth Rugby Club!

Coincidentally, his shirt bears the number one, not 15 as it would be today, because in those days the numbering started at full back and not loose-head prop!

Early years in rugby

Norman started out in the oval-ball game as a centre whilst attending Llanhilleth Secondary School and then gaining selection for Abertillery Schools as their full back.

Then it was on to national service with the South Wales Borderers where his first three months of basic training came at Brecon Barracks and then almost all the rest of his two-year stint was spent in Germany, where he played for his regiment on a regular basis and for the British Army of the Rhine against the RAF and a combined Oxford/Cambridge University touring team which had some fine players.

Coincidentally, there were only three rugby players from the regiment in Rex 'Tarzan' Richards, Glyn Davidge and Norman - and all three played their club rugby for Newport.

Starting out in ‘Civvy Street’

After his return to 'civvy street' he went to work in the steel works and in 1959 went for a trial with Newport after a recommendation from Major Brian Dauncey - and was soon making his first team debut against Penarth at Rodney Parade alongside two real 'legends' of the Welsh game in winger Ken Jones, who was also a top sprinter, and Malcolm Thomas as captain.

Both wished him well in the changing room and Norman was soon scoring with such regularity that at the end of the season he had accumulated a club record of 159 points.

Norman finished up his Newport career with 951 points and for the rugby anoraks reading this his scoring came from seven tries, 234 conversions, 146 penalties and eight drop goals!
His performances saw Norman chosen as a reserve for Wales against Scotland, Ireland and France a year before he finally pulled on the coveted Welsh jersey but in those days there were no replacements and Terry Davies was the hugely-respected full back.

Thrilling news brought second hand

But the following campaign saw Norman selected after he had played in a win against Aberavon and then went to the cinema with his late wife Patricia, who never missed a game, and it was only when they got back to Patricia's home that her father told Norman he had heard the good news from the Llanhilleth secretary Arthur Protheroe.

."On Monday I had the card informing me of my selection and after what seemed a lifetime Friday arrived and I caught the service bus to Cardiff and we were taken by bus to Glamorgan Wanderers Ground for a gentle run out before I caught the bus back home.

"Then on Saturday morning I caught the 10.10am bus from Llanhilleth with my boots and few other pieces in my kit bag and we all had a light lunch together in the Royal Hotel before I walked across to the Arms Park with winger Dewi Bebb.

Debut success

"We again had a gentle warm-up where we threw balls to each other and stood just where we happened to be for the National Anthems, a moment I will never forget because the hair on my neck literally stood on end!

"We won 8-0 against Scotland thanks to a try under the posts by Dewi (worth three points in those distant days), which I converted to go with a penalty.

"Winning was wonderful and we were presented with our caps and had a formal dinner before my father Eddie, a former Powderhall pro sprinter, came down to pick me up because the last bus had gone!"

Victory in Ireland but defeat in France

There followed another win against Ireland where Norman's second conversion, from the touchline, gave Wales an 11-9 victory at Lansdowne Road with players of the calibre of hooker Bryn Meredith, outside half Onllwyn Brace and No 8 Ray Prosser, who became the revered coach at Pontypool, before Wales lost to France in Cardiff on Norman's 25th birthday; but again he scored five points to bring his tally to 14 points for Wales.

Being watched by a top official . . .

There were also memorable moments for other reasons too as Wales followed a strict amateur regime when even the hint of being paid could have a player banned for life.

"I once kicked four penalties, all from half way, to help Newport beat Cardiff 12-8 and afterwards was interviewed by Cliff Morgan for the BBC - and was paid five guineas for my time.

"But when the Hon Sec of the WRU heard about it I received a sharp call from head office to say I had to donate it to charity (I gave it to the delighted local OAP club) and send the receipt to him immediately.

. . . And being approached by a Rugby League scout!

But even more worrying was the time that his mother Edith called him in from the garden because he had a visitor.

"I knew straight away he was a rugby league scout and I ushered him rudely out of the door as he was telling me he was from Bradford Northern and I thought I heard a sum of £4,500 mentioned.

"My mother really told me off for being rude, especially since that money would have paid for a house in our village, a new car and plenty left over for a rainy day!

"Again I had to inform the WRU who warned me about any further approaches!"

Other honours follow for Norman

Norman also played for the Barbarians in a celebration match against Leicester at Wellford Road and for Crawshays on several occasion, and still wears his BaaBaas' blazer on special occasions.

He is also the proud owner of a blazer badge awarded to the 1957 Newport team who beat Australia 11-0 (the only time the Aussies failed to score on a long tour) - and he slotted a conversion and a 40-yard drop goal.

Norman was also presented with a South African pin by team manager Avril Malan after the Springboks had edged home 3-0, and the legendary Springbok told him that if Norman hadn't been injured he would have slotted a few of the plethora of penalties missed by the Black and Ambers on the day!

Knee injury proves costly

"But then I turned out for Newport against Watsonians on a Boxing Day and in awful conditions I damaged my knee and although I was operated on by Nathan Rocyn Jones, the WRU surgeon, it was never the same afterwards and I knew my playing days were over, especially since I couldn't jeopardise my job with British Steel!"

Ask Norman about most respected players he came across and he would nominate Roy Burnett as the best team-mate, despite his only having one cap because Cliff Morgan was No 1 fly half at the time.

In terms of opponents, Arthur Smith would be nominated, the speedy Scottish winger whom Norman encountered at club and country level.

And finally . . .

Norman is immensely proud of his children, David Morgan and Elizabeth Jameson, and he is also the grandfather to four grandchildren he dotes upon but there is one person that he is always reluctant to talk about, and that is Norman himself!

But chatting to him about rugby in a totally different time from today was a wonderful walk down 'Memory Lane' with a modest and charming old-timer who is still a massive credit to his chosen sport!