Luke Morgan (rugby union)

Luke Morgan
Full nameLuke Morgan
Date of birth (1992-05-16) 16 May 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthBridgend, Wales
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Weight81 kg (12 st 11 lb; 179 lb)
SchoolPencoed College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Ospreys
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 Ospreys 1 (0)
2018– Ospreys 18 (45)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 Wales U20 7 (34)
2012–2018 Wales Sevens
2018 Wales 1 (0)
Correct as of 14 October 2022

Luke Morgan (born 16 May 1992) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys as a wing. Born in Bridgend, Wales, he was a Wales under-20 and Wales Sevens international.

Rugby career

Morgan made his debut for the Ospreys in 2011 having previously played for the Ospreys academy, Bridgend Ravens, Bridgend Athletic RFC, Llanelli RFC, Newport RFC and the Ospreys Development team, but switched to rugby sevens in 2012, despite signing a three year development contract with the Ospreys in 2011.[1][2] During the 2012 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, scored twice against Scotland.[3] While with Bridgend, Morgan was the top try scorer for the 2011–12 Welsh Premiership season, his father accepting the award on his behalf as he was away with Wales U20 for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[4]

In 2016 Morgan was selected as part of the Great Britain sevens team which travelled to Moscow to take part in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens, and was part of the royals team that won the Silver Plate.[5][6] An ACL injury caused Morgan to miss the 2016 Summer Olympics.[7]

Morgan was later selected to represent Wales at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.[8] While playing in the World Cup, Morgan was involved in an off-the-pitch incident with Samoan player, Gordon Langkilde, which resulted in Morgan receiving facial injuries whilst teammate Tom Williams suffered a broken nose and cheekbone. The Wales players were not sanctioned for the affray and Langkilde was banned from rugby for a year.[9] After becoming Wales' all-time record try scorer at sevens level, Morgan switched back to 15-a-side rugby in 2018, rejoining the Ospreys.[8] He made his Pro14 debut on 14 September 2018 against Munster.[10]

In October 2018 Morgan was called up to the senior Wales squad by Warren Gatland.[11] Morgan made his debut against Scotland, starting on the wing.[12] In March 2019, Morgan extended his contract with the Ospreys, and signed a further extension in 2021.[13][14] on 7 June Luke signed a further contract extension with the ospreys

References

  1. ^ a b Cary, Tom (1 November 2018). "Former Wales Sevens star Luke Morgan set for debut against Scotland in autumn Tests". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ WalesOnline (17 August 2011). "Luke becomes an Osprey". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Morgan at the double as Wales Under-20s claim first win". Six Nations Rugby. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. ^ WalesOnline (6 June 2012). "Ravens winger Luke Morgan wins top try scorer award". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Team GB lift Plate in Moscow". World Rugby. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Luke Morgan Named in GB Sevens Squad for Moscow". dragonsrugby.wales. June 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. ^ Griffiths, Gareth (15 July 2016). "Wales Sevens star Luke Morgan's Rio 2016 Olympics dream devastated by injury". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Wales Sevens star Luke Morgan to return to Ospreys for a new season". BBC Sport. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Samoan rugby player pleads guilty to assaulting Wales players". BBC Sport. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Ospreys team to play Munster". Ospreys. 13 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Jonah Holmes: Leicester fullback included in Wales' Autumn Internationals squad". ESPN. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Luke Morgan to make Wales debut". Planet Rugby. 1 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Morgan signs Ospreys contract extension". BBC Sport. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Wales wing Morgan signs new Ospreys deal". BBC Sport. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2023.