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Jac Morgan

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For other people named Jack Morgan, see Jack Morgan (disambiguation).

Jac Morgan
Birth nameJac Morgan
Date of birth (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24)
Place of birthSketty, Swansea, Wales
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Current team Ospreys
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2021
2021–		 Scarlets
Ospreys		 20
38		 (20)
(20)
Correct as of 25 October 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2020 Wales U20 15 (10)
2022– Wales 16 (30)

Jac Morgan (born 21 January 2000) is a Welsh rugby union player, who plays in the backrow for the Ospreys and Wales. He is the current captain of the Wales national rugby union team.[1][2]

Early life

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Jac Morgan was born in Sketty in Swansea, Wales, and grew up in Brynamman. He attended school at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, and gave up a mechanical engineering apprenticeship to pursue professional rugby union.[3]

Club career

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Morgan came through the Scarlets academy and made his debut in the Challenge Cup clash with London Irish in November 2019. Morgan then scored his first professional try in the Pro 14 defeat to Ulster.[4]

After returning from a knee injury in February, Morgan crossed for two tries in a man-of-the-match display against Benetton, before putting in 25 tackles to help the Scarlets claim a crucial victory over Edinburgh. This led to Morgan being voted Scarlets Player of the Month for February.[5]

In March 2021, it was announced that Morgan would join local rivals Ospreys following expiration of his contract.[6]

He began his Ospreys career in great form, being awarded man of the match in their 18–10 victory over Munster on 23 October 2021.[7] He was overlooked for selection for the Wales for the upcoming Autumn test series, despite recognition from press and pundits alike.[8]

Morgan was named man of the match on 20 January 2023, scoring an 88th minute try as the Ospreys beat Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, securing their place in the knockouts of the 2022–23 Champions Cup.[9]

Morgan can play at blindside, number eight, and openside flanker.[3] He is relatively small compared to most,[10] but not all,[11] top international players in these positions.

International career

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In the Six Nations Under 20s Championship 2019-20 he captained Wales[12] and achieved more turnovers than any other player in this tournament.[13] He was called up to the senior Wales squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.[14]

Morgan made his senior Wales debut on 12 February 2022 in the 20-17 victory over Scotland. [15]

Morgan was controversially dropped by Wales coach Wayne Pivac, ahead of the 2022 tour of South Africa.[16]

Consistent performances for the Ospreys saw him recalled to the Welsh squad for the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals. Morgan scored four tries in two matches, gaining plaudits from the press despite an overall poor series for the side.[17]

Morgan retained his place in the Welsh squad for the 2023 Six Nations.[18] He showed his versatility early on in the tournament, starting the first match against Ireland as a blindside flanker, before moving to number eight in the following fixture against Scotland.[19][20]

He was chosen to co-captain the Welsh squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup alongside Dewi Lake.[21] Morgan scored tries in the World Cup games against Portugal[22] and Australia.[23]

International tries

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Try Opponent Location Venue Competition Date Result
1  Georgia Cardiff, Wales Principality Stadium 2022 Autumn Internationals 19 November 2022 Loss
2
3  Australia Cardiff, Wales Principality Stadium 2022 Autumn Internationals 26 November 2022 Loss
4
5  Portugal Nice, France Stade de Nice 2023 Rugby World Cup 16 September 2023 Win
6  Australia Lyon, France Parc Olympique Lyonnais 2023 Rugby World Cup 24 September 2023 Win

References

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  1. ^ "Scarlets Academy". scarlets.wales. 5 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Jac Morgan". itsrugby.co.uk. 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Orders, Mark (16 November 2020). "The 'unbelievable' performance from a young Welsh rugby machine". WalesOnline.
  4. ^ "Ulster rack up bonus point over Scarlets in game of two halves at Kingspan". Belfasttelegraph.
  5. ^ "Jac voted Scarlets player of the month for February". Scarlets Rugby. 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Ospreys confirm Morgan signing". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "Amman Valley man Jac delighted to be man of the match against Munster". South Wales Guardian. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  8. ^ James, Ben (14 October 2021). "Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell told they don't suit Wales' style of play". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Ospreys stun Leicester in dramatic fashion - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ e.g. Sam Cane, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Jerome Kaino
  11. ^ e.g. Hamish Watson
  12. ^ "Under-20s Six Nations: Wales 7-17 Italy". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020. Scarlets flanker Jac Morgan captained Wales Under-20s against Italy (picture caption)
  13. ^ "Rising Stars - Welsh Wrecking Ball, Jac Morgan". www.ultimaterugby.com. 27 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Dan Biggar: Wales name Lions fly-half as captain for 2022 Six Nations". BBC. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Biggar leads Wales to win over Scotland". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ "Ospreys surprised by Morgan omission". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  17. ^ Orders, Mark (26 November 2022). "Wales player ratings as Jac a 'one-man wrecking machine' but others disappoint". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Ireland cruise to Six Nations win over Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Scotland blow away Wales to end Gatland hoodoo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Wales reveal squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  22. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Wales v Portugal | Rugby World Cup 2023". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  23. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Wales v Australia | Rugby World Cup 2023". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
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