Lionel Morgan (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Lionel Morgan is an Indigenous Australian former rugby league
footballer, named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century, and current coach. Morgan was the first Indigenous Australian to be selected to play in a recognised rugby league Test match. He primarily played on the wing.
A New South Wales' Schoolboy representative player, Morgan moved from Tweed Heads
to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. In 1960 he was selected for the second and third Tests of the French
tour of Australia. He scored two tries on his international debut. At the end of the 1960 season, he played one match for Australia in the 1960 World Cup, again against France, at Wigan. Morgan's selection for the Tests made him the first Indigenous Australian to represent at an international level in any major national sporting team. In 1962 he was named Queensland's Best Back.
Morgan was subjected to racism through-out his career. He has described an incident in a match against Ipswich
. "I was tackled over the sideline, and apparently the whole Ipswich team jumped on top of me," he said. "I woke up in hospital." In another incident he was hospitalised after being punched by a spectator.
Morgan's four sons all spent time playing for Wynnum-Manly.
Morgan continues his association with rugby league as coach of the Queensland Rugby League's Indigenous Under-16 team.
In August, 2008, Morgan was named on the wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer, named amongst the nation's finest of the 20th century, and current coach. Morgan was the first Indigenous Australian to be selected to play in a recognised rugby league Test match. He primarily played on the wing.
A New South Wales' Schoolboy representative player, Morgan moved from Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Tweed Heads is a town located on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in Tweed Shire. Tweed Heads is located next to the border with Queensland, adjacent to the "Twin Town" of Coolangatta, a suburb of the Gold Coast...
to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. In 1960 he was selected for the second and third Tests of the French
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
tour of Australia. He scored two tries on his international debut. At the end of the 1960 season, he played one match for Australia in the 1960 World Cup, again against France, at Wigan. Morgan's selection for the Tests made him the first Indigenous Australian to represent at an international level in any major national sporting team. In 1962 he was named Queensland's Best Back.
Morgan was subjected to racism through-out his career. He has described an incident in a match against Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. "I was tackled over the sideline, and apparently the whole Ipswich team jumped on top of me," he said. "I woke up in hospital." In another incident he was hospitalised after being punched by a spectator.
Morgan's four sons all spent time playing for Wynnum-Manly.
Morgan continues his association with rugby league as coach of the Queensland Rugby League's Indigenous Under-16 team.
In August, 2008, Morgan was named on the wing in the Indigenous Team of the Century.