In first season was leading scorer with 126pts. Newport Youth (also Captain), Barbarians, Crawshays, Wales B and Wales (vs Scotland 1984). Wales Tour to Japan in May 1983. Newport captain 1987-88. Made 250th appearance vs Newbridge October 1981. Passed Keith Poole's record of 486 vs Cardiff (cup) in 30th January 1988 (Lost 23 v 26). Played 500th game at Pontypool in April 1988. Only Newport prop to play more than 300 games.
Four years after 'retiring' played several games for Newport United age 40 yrs in 1994-95.
Only Newport player to play in 1977, 1978 and 1986 Cup Finals. Coached Newport United. Plumber by trade.
o - o - o - o - O - O - O - o - o - o - o
In the match programme for Newport v South Wales Police on 23rd March 1993 the following article appeared in the column 'Moments of Rugby Pride':-
"RHYS SCORED ON DEBUT . . ."
"Thirty-eight-year-old Rhys Morgan, Newport Rugby Club's former prop forward, played for Wales B against France in 1983, and the following season he played for Wales against Scotland in the five nations championship. Among other distinctions he achieved were selection for the Barbarians, the Crawshay XV, and Monmouthshire as well as being chosen as a Welsh replacement for the match with Tonga, yet none of these provided him with his greatest moment of pride."
"That came at a very early stage of his rugby career. In fact, it was when he made his debut for Newport's first team back in 1973. "At that time I was 19 years old, and I was chosen as the reserve prop for the match with Neath at The Gnoll, but at the last minute Brian Rowlands dropped out because of an injury, so I was told I would have to take his place", explained Rhys Morgan, who added, "My first game for Newport's first team must still be regarded as my proudest moment in rugby". "
"Newport were defeated 21-3, but to his great satisfaction their young and inexperienced prop forward scored three points with a penalty goal. Rhys had spent three seasons with the club's youth team, and when he was called up to turn out against Neath he had played only twice for Newport United."
"He went on to make 538 first team appearances for Newport, a record which stood for some time before it was eclipsed by his old colleague and friend, David Waters. Three of those matches were in Welsh Cup finals, the first of which Newport, under the captaincy of their other prop, Colin Smart, won the trophy by defeating Cardiff 16-15 During that long stretch he scored something like 350 points for the first team, mostly from goal kicks, though he registered twenty tries."
"Today he is continuing to serve Newport with his usual high brand of enthusiasm, for after coaching Newport United for three seasons he is doing his best to develop players in the under-21 team. Married, he has two young children, but his ten-year-old boy is more interested in music than rugby."
" "He plays the clarinet, and he gets his love for classical music from his mother, certainly not me" explained Rhys, who might have added. "Good for you Mrs. Morgan"! "
"WILLIS HUNTLEY"