Olly Morgan
Encyclopedia
Oliver Morgan is a rugby union
footballer who plays at fullback for Gloucester
and England
.
where he was put on the wing and he was Gloucester's sole try scorer in a 13–14 defeat at Kingsholm
.
made their debuts during the season. Morgan caught the eye with his fantastic ability to catch a high ball. Gloucester made the final of the European Challenge Cup
which they went onto win but unfortunately Morgan was injured for the final at The Stoop. Overall, Morgan appeared 19 times for Gloucester in all competitions and he scored 2 tries, both in the European Challenge Cup
.
on the opening day with Morgan scoring a try. He continued his great form and was rewarded with selection by England. Unfortunately he was injured in his second appearance for England which ruled him out of the rest of the season including Gloucester's defeat to Leicester
in the Guinness Premiership Final. He did manage 4 tries in 18 appearances for Gloucester.
, Morgan dislocated his shoulder which ruled him out for nearly 4 months of the season. He returned in late March to play a part in helping Gloucester to top the table. However a dead leg meant he missed out on Gloucester's 25–26 home defeat to Leicester
in the semi-finals of the Guinness Premiership
. Morgan scored 4 tries in his 13 Gloucester appearances during the season.
, one at Kingsholm
and one at the Memorial Stadium
. Another great try was scored against London Wasps
at home. Overall he made 24 appearances and scored 8 tries in all competitions. His 7 Guinness Premiership
tries made him joint top premiership scorer at the club with Iain Balshaw
. His outstanding performances for Gloucester meant that he was named Young player of the season for the 2008/09 season and he was also runner up for the player of the season award. He was also named in the Sky Sports Dream Team for the season, selected by Will Greenwood
, Dewi Morris
and Stuart Barnes
.
(46-6) and Sale
(47-3).
. He scored the first try of the match after 6 minutes but a few minutes later, in the build up to Leicester's first try, Olly injured his shoulder which would rule him out for the rest of the season.
, in their third game of the tournament but had to leave the field with a season ending shoulder injury before half time. After a great 2008/09 season, Morgan was selected for England's 3 summer games, however he did not make any appearances.
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...
footballer who plays at fullback for Gloucester
Gloucester RFC
Gloucester Rugby are a professional English rugby union club situated in the west country city of Gloucester. The club plays in the domestic Aviva Premiership...
and England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
2004–05
Morgan made 2 appearances for Gloucester during his debut season. His first start was against SaracensSaracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
where he was put on the wing and he was Gloucester's sole try scorer in a 13–14 defeat at Kingsholm
Kingsholm Stadium
Kingsholm Stadium is a rugby union stadium in Gloucester, England, and is the home stadium of Gloucester Rugby. The stadium has a capacity of 16,500. It is sometimes nicknamed 'Castle Grim' after the estate where the stadium is built and also in reference to Gloucester's admirable home form...
.
2005–06
During this season, Morgan made many more appearances for Gloucester competing mainly with Jon Goodridge for the number 15 shirt. Other young players such as Anthony Allen and Ryan LambRyan Lamb
Ryan Lamb is a rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership.-Club career:...
made their debuts during the season. Morgan caught the eye with his fantastic ability to catch a high ball. Gloucester made the final of the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
which they went onto win but unfortunately Morgan was injured for the final at The Stoop. Overall, Morgan appeared 19 times for Gloucester in all competitions and he scored 2 tries, both in the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
.
2006–07
Morgan and Gloucester made a great start to the season by beating BathBath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
on the opening day with Morgan scoring a try. He continued his great form and was rewarded with selection by England. Unfortunately he was injured in his second appearance for England which ruled him out of the rest of the season including Gloucester's defeat to Leicester
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...
in the Guinness Premiership Final. He did manage 4 tries in 18 appearances for Gloucester.
2007–08
Injury haunted Morgan once again after another fantastic start to the season. He scored 3 tries in his first 5 appearances of the season. During Gloucester's 31–7 victory at BourgoinCS Bourgoin-Jallieu
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu is a French rugby union club currently competing in the second level of the French league system in the Pro D2. The club have been runners-up in the French championship and the Challenge Yves du Manoir competitions, and have won the Challenge Cup.Founded in 1906 as "Club...
, Morgan dislocated his shoulder which ruled him out for nearly 4 months of the season. He returned in late March to play a part in helping Gloucester to top the table. However a dead leg meant he missed out on Gloucester's 25–26 home defeat to Leicester
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...
in the semi-finals of the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
. Morgan scored 4 tries in his 13 Gloucester appearances during the season.
2008–09
Despite an indifferent season from Gloucester, Morgan played exceptionally well. He scored many tries during the first half of the season including 2 fantastic tries against BristolBristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
, one at Kingsholm
Kingsholm Stadium
Kingsholm Stadium is a rugby union stadium in Gloucester, England, and is the home stadium of Gloucester Rugby. The stadium has a capacity of 16,500. It is sometimes nicknamed 'Castle Grim' after the estate where the stadium is built and also in reference to Gloucester's admirable home form...
and one at the Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of the rugby union players of the city killed during World War I...
. Another great try was scored against London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
at home. Overall he made 24 appearances and scored 8 tries in all competitions. His 7 Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
tries made him joint top premiership scorer at the club with Iain Balshaw
Iain Balshaw
Iain Robert Balshaw, MBE is a rugby footballer who plays on the wing or at full back for Biarritz.-Early life:...
. His outstanding performances for Gloucester meant that he was named Young player of the season for the 2008/09 season and he was also runner up for the player of the season award. He was also named in the Sky Sports Dream Team for the season, selected by Will Greenwood
Will Greenwood
William John Heaton "Will" Greenwood, MBE is an English former rugby union footballer of the 1990s and 2000s.-Career:...
, Dewi Morris
Dewi Morris
Dewi Morris is a former rugby union footballer, who played scrum half for England.Morris made his England debut in 1988 against Australia. He was dropped in 1990 in favour of Richard Hill, but returned to the England side in 1992 and was the Lions scrum-half in 1993...
and Stuart Barnes
Stuart Barnes
Stuart Barnes is a former English rugby union footballer, and now rugby commentator for Sky Sports. Barnes played fly-half for Newport RFC, Bristol, Bath; and represented England and the British Lions at international level.-Biography:Born in Essex, Barnes was educated at Rougemont and Bassaleg...
.
2009-10
Olly started at full back 16 times in all competitions for Gloucester throughout the season. Olly didn't score any tries during the season but he did play an important role in many game including playing in comprehensive wins over HarlequinsHarlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
(46-6) and Sale
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
(47-3).
2010-11
Olly continued as Gloucester's first choice full-back for the season. He scored 6 tries in all competitions from 21 starts. Gloucester went 11 games unbeaten during the season and Olly started 9 of these games. The final game of the run saw Olly help Gloucester win the Anglo-Welsh Cup. A few weeks later Olly played a small but significant part in Gloucester's incredible 41-41 draw at Welford Road with LeicesterLeicester 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...
. He scored the first try of the match after 6 minutes but a few minutes later, in the build up to Leicester's first try, Olly injured his shoulder which would rule him out for the rest of the season.
England
Morgan made his England debut in the 2007 Six Nations opener against Scotland at Full Back. He played again for England three weeks later, against Ireland at Croke ParkCroke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, in their third game of the tournament but had to leave the field with a season ending shoulder injury before half time. After a great 2008/09 season, Morgan was selected for England's 3 summer games, however he did not make any appearances.