INTERVIEW
Cliff Morgan:
true sports legend
Special report by Peter White
LEGEND is a term I never use loosely.
Scoring a hat-trick at football or
hitting a century at cricket makes for
a good player, but not necessarily a
legend.
However, there was no doubt in my
mind that when I set off to interview
Cliff Morgan for this edition of Island
Life I was about to meet someone who
undoubtedly befitted the terminology.
I was certainly not disappointed.
Cliff, the former Wales Rugby Union
captain, is not just a legend in his
homeland, but throughout the whole
world of rugby. He later became a
highly accomplished BBC broadcaster
and commentator; head of outside
broadcast for the ‘Beeb’, and a founder
captain of the ever-popular TV
programme ‘A Question of Sport’.
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But it was for his exploits on the
rugby field that Cliff will always
be remembered by those who were
fortunate enough to see him play,
and those who have subsequently
viewed footage of his games since his
retirement at the age of just 28 back
in 1958.
He and his wife Pat moved to the
Island eight years ago. Shortly after
making their home in Bembridge,
Cliff was diagnosed with cancer of the
vocal chords, and he now has difficulty
in speaking. But at the age of 82 he
displays the same character, courage
and determination that made him a
rugby legend for his club Cardiff, and
his country.
And he has lost none of the wit and
charm that made him such a fine TV
front man and after-dinner speaker. “I
was once called a liar and a cheat,” he
recalled with a smile. “And that was
by the secretary of the Welsh RFU
(Rugby Football Union).
“It was my first international match
for Wales, and afterwards we had to
queue up to pick up our expenses.
“When it was my turn I told the
secretary I was owed five shillings
(25p) for my bus fare to and from the
stadium. He looked down at his book
for a while then he glared at me, and
slamming his fist on the table declared
‘Morgan you are a liar and a cheat!
I have checked the bus fare and it is
Above: Scoring a try against Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park in 1955
Right: Front cover of Rugby World in 1955