Jack Morley

John "Jack" Cuthbert Morley (28 July 1909–7 March 1972) was a Welsh international rugby wing who played rugby union for Newport and rugby league with Wigan. He won five caps for Wales in rugby league and 14 caps for Wales in union and was the first player to tour Australia and New Zealand for both union and league British teams.

Morley, although mainly a wing player was often used as a utility back, and was known for his incredible pace and ability to change direction at speed. He was an intelligent but unorthodox player.^[2]

Club career

Morley first represented Wales as a schoolboy, and after leaving Newport Municipal Secondary School he joined Newport. In his first season with the club he scored 29 tries and by 1931 was captain of the senior Newport team, at the age of 21 he was the youngest player to be given the honour.^[5] He captained Newport against the touring South Africans at Rodney Parade on 8 October 1931, and set up Ken Richards for a try after a typical zigzag run. The South Africans took note of Morley and attempted to ensure he wasn't given the space to run at them for the rest of the game.^[6] In August 1932 he switched to rugby league, leaving Newport for Wigan.

Championship final appearances

Jack Morley played Right-Wing, i.e. number 2, and scored a try in Wigan's 15-3 victory over Salford in the Championship final during the 1933–34 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 28 April 1934 .^[7]

County Cup final appearances

Jack Morley played Right-Wing, i.e. number 2, in Wigan's 10-7 victory over Salford in the 1938 Lancashire Cup final during the 1938–39 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 22 October 1938.^[8]

Notable tour matches

Jack Morley played Right-Wing, i.e. number 2, and scored 2-tries in Wigan's 30-27 victory over France at Central Park, Wigan, on Saturday 10 March 1934.^[9]

International career

Morley was first capped for Wales against England on 19 January 1929 and although he finished on the losing side he did manage to score a try on his debut, when he received the ball forty yards out, broke infield and crossed wide, after cutting back inside to score .^[10] He retained his place and played in the remaining three games of the Championship. After playing in two matches of the 1930 tournament, he played in all four matches of Wales's Championship winning 1932 campaign. Morley scored in all but one of the matches, surprisingly the game he failed to score was against France, when Wales were rampant and his team mates scored seven tries. Morley was capped 14 times for Wales and his final game was against Ireland at the Cardiff Arms Park in 1932. He would probably have been chosen for future teams as he was still a young exciting player, but his decision to join a professional league side made him ineligible for future Welsh games.

International matches played under union code

Wales^[11]

•  England 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932
•  France 1929, 1931
•  Ireland 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932
•  Scotland 1929, 1931, 1932
•  South Africa 1931

British Lions^[12]

•  New Zealand New Zealand 1930, 1930, 1930

International matches played under league code

Great Britain

•  Australia 1936, 1937

Wales

•  England 1932, 1936
•  France 1935, 1935
•  Australia 1933

Bibliography

• Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale, Glamorgan: Ron Jones Publications. 
• Godwin, Terry (1984). The International Rugby Championship 1883-1983. Grafton Street, London: Willow Books. ISBN 0-00-218060-X. 
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3. 

References

External links

• England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com