Gloucester Rugby: Olly Morgan

By Cotswold Life on January 5th 2012

Gloucester Rugby

Player Profile: Olly Morgan

There has been plenty of talk in recent times about the latest crop of Gloucester Rugby ‘young guns’ blazing a trail for themselves in the first team.

However, not that long ago, people were saying exactly the same thing about the likes of Anthony Allen, Ryan Lamb and Olly Morgan who all came through the ranks at the same time.

Allen and Lamb are now obviously playing their trade elsewhere. However, ‘Morgs’ as he’s affectionately known by the Kingsholm faithful is still a fixture in the Gloucester Rugby squad and recently put pen to paper on a new contract with the club. Does he ever take a moment and wonder where the time went?

“Definitely. There was a time when Ant, Lamby and myself were all coming on to the scene together and that does seem a while ago now which probably suggests that I’ve been around for quite a while.

“The fact that you’ve got the current crop, the likes of Trinder, Freddie, Jonny, Davey etc, I suppose puts me in that old bracket!

“At the same time though, you’ve got people like Hazey, Browny, Sinbad, Tins. All those guys make me feel relatively young (laughs).

“I suppose I’ve grown up here in a way, especially joining the club straight from school. The way my rugby has developed over the years is down to Gloucester, the people who have been here and the people I’ve played with.”

He made his first team breakthrough in 2004-5, has now made well over 100 first team appearances and recently signed a new three year contract with the club. Was it a difficult decision to stay?

“Not at all. It’s obvious by the amount of players who stay at Gloucester for a long time that it’s a great place to be. Look at the amount who have had testimonials in recent years. Keeping a core of a team together like that for so long is quite an achievement in modern times.

“That’s down to the rugby environment, the way we play the game, the area of the country we live in. It’s the whole package that Gloucester offers – rugby and lifestyle combined.”

Talk of testimonials and long serving players inevitably leads the conversation on to life after rugby and the London born full back is already making preparations for when he hangs up his boots.

“Some of the boys tell you that I maybe focus too much on planning for the future! I’m doing my qualifications in coaching, mentoring and fitness instruction and I’m hoping that these will stand me in good stead for something like a Head of Rugby role at a school for example.”

And, he is already enjoying a taste of rugby in an academic environment as he has been spending time working at Dean Close doing a lot of mentoring and coaching alongside former Bristol Rugby and England full back Paul Hull

“I’ve found the experience very beneficial. I’ve enjoyed it, they’ve looked after me and it’s great to seethe kids progress.”

For more information about Gloucester Rugby or to book tickets visit www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk

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