Darren Morris
Encyclopedia
Darren Morris is a Wales
international rugby union
player and has represented the British and Irish Lions
. He plays as a loosehead prop.
, and educated at Aberdare Boys School, Neath College and the University of Glamorgan
. He played tighthead for Neath
, but moved to Swansea
in 1998, moving to loosehead when Ben Evans
arrived. Morris then joined Leicester Tigers
, and finding competition for places with England props Graham Rowntree
and Julian White
, improved his fitness levels. However, Tigers did not offer to renew his contract at the end of the 2006 season. Morris signed for Worcester Warriors and made 64 appearances for the club. In July 2009 it was announced he was leaving Worcester at the end of the season. He joined Cardiff Blues
. In January 2010, Morris signed for Northampton Saints
until the end of the season as a replacement for Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino
. he then retired at the end of the season, and he now coaches and plays for Hartpury RFC.
. He played in the 2001 Six Nations and Morris played on the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and came on as a replacement for Tom Smith in the third test.
He also went on the 2004 tour to Argentina and South Africa under Mike Ruddock
.
Morris appeared twice in Argentina as a replacement from the bench, and in his final Wales
game, appeared as a blood replacement against South Africa
on 24 June 2004.
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player and has represented the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. He plays as a loosehead prop.
Club career
Morris was born in PontypriddPontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
, and educated at Aberdare Boys School, Neath College and the University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
. He played tighthead for Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
, but moved to Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
in 1998, moving to loosehead when Ben Evans
Ben Evans
For the fictional Sunset Beach character see Ben Evans Ben Evans is a former international Wales rugby union player. A prop, he has played for Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Calvisano. He currently plays for Jersey Rugby Football Club.-External links:*...
arrived. Morris then joined Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
, and finding competition for places with England props Graham Rowntree
Graham Rowntree
Graham Christopher Rowntree is a former English rugby union player. He played loosehead prop for Leicester Tigers and England. He was capped 54 times for England, despite having to compete for his position with the world's second most capped player, Jason Leonard.Rowntree was born in...
and Julian White
Julian White
Julian White MBE is an English rugby union footballer who plays prop for Leicester Tigers and England.White is regarded as one of the most powerful forwards in the game...
, improved his fitness levels. However, Tigers did not offer to renew his contract at the end of the 2006 season. Morris signed for Worcester Warriors and made 64 appearances for the club. In July 2009 it was announced he was leaving Worcester at the end of the season. He joined Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
. In January 2010, Morris signed for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
until the end of the season as a replacement for Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino
Santiago González Bonorino
Santiago González Bonorino is a former Argentine rugby union player, most recently playing for Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership...
. he then retired at the end of the season, and he now coaches and plays for Hartpury RFC.
International career
He made his Wales début on 6 June 1998 against ZimbabweZimbabwe national rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation...
. He played in the 2001 Six Nations and Morris played on the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and came on as a replacement for Tom Smith in the third test.
He also went on the 2004 tour to Argentina and South Africa under Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock
Mike Ruddock, OBE is a Welsh rugby union coach, currently coach of the Ireland Under-20 Rugby Union Team and Lansdowne FC . Ruddock was the coach of the Worcester Warriors until his resignation on 28 April 2010 following their relegation from the Guinness Premiership...
.
Morris appeared twice in Argentina as a replacement from the bench, and in his final Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
game, appeared as a blood replacement against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
on 24 June 2004.