Newbridge RFC “devastated” over death of former player, and RFU president Derek Morgan

Newbridge RFC has paid tribute to former England No.8 and RFU president Derek Morgan, who has died aged 88.

Born in Newport and attending Lewis School Pengam, Mr Morgan played for Wales Schoolboys. It was while he was at Durham University studying dentistry that he was selected to play for England in 1960 – qualifying through parentage.

That year he helped England to an unbeaten run as they shared the Five Nations title with France.

A knee injury the following year saw an end to the international stage after just nine caps, but going against the advice of doctors Mr Morgan went on to play for Newbridge for 12 seasons.

He later became an England selector in the 1970s and went on to become RFU president in 2002.

In a statement, Newbridge RFC said the club was “devastated” at the news of Morgan’s death.

The club said: “Derek will be known by many in and around our club and will be sadly and sorely missed by us all.

“Not only did he play for our club and represent us on the international stage as a player with the Barbarians and England, but he also achieved a great deal with the RFU as an administrator, ultimately becoming their president in 2002.

“Even so, Derek was always committed to Newbridge and was instrumental in making our club stronger off the field and played a huge part in growing the facilities into those that we are able to enjoy to this day.

“Even into his latter years and being so far away from home while living in Northumberland, he always kept in touch and could be relied upon for help and advice for ‘all things NRFC’ whenever it was needed.

“Derek will always be fondly remembered by us all at Newbridge and we send our love and condolences to [his wife] Ruth and the rest of the family at this very sad time.”

Famed rugby journalist Peter Jackson once asked Mr Morgan how he ended up playing for England.

In his column for The Rugby Paper in 2018 he wrote: “One day some decades ago, curiosity got the better of me and I rang his surgery hoping to extract an explanation.

“How did one born in Wales, bred in Wales and with an accent to match come to be capped by England? ‘Well, let me answer that question with a question,’ he said, pausing for effect. ‘If you were born in a stable, does that make you a horse?'”

Mr Morgan on Friday May 24 at his home peacefully. He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 60 years, three children and six grandchildren.