Lionel Morgan (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Lionel Morgan
fullname = Lionel Morgan


caption =
dateofbirth = 12 August, 1938
placeofbirth =
countryofbirth =
height =
weight =
position = rlp|WG
club1 = Wynnum-Manly
year1start = 1959
year1end = 1968
appearances1 = 106
tries1 =
goals1 =
fieldgoals1 =
points1 =
teamA = Queensland
yearAstart = 1960
yearAend = 1963
appearancesA = 12
triesA = 9
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 27
teamB = Australia
yearBstart = 1960
yearBend =
appearancesB = 2
triesB = 2
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 6
source = [cite book | author=Colin Tatz |title=Aborigines in Sport |year=1987 |publisher="The Australian Society For Sports History" |location=Bedford Park, South Australia |isbn=0858376032 |pages=page 81] , cite book | author=Alan Whiticker & Glen Hudson |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players (with Queensland Section) |year=1995 |publisher="Gary Allen Pty Ltd" |location=Smithfield, New South Wales |isbn=9781877082931 |pages=page 516] , [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/Lionel_Morgan.html RLP]

Lionel Morgan (born 12 August, 1938) is an Indigenous Australian former rugby league player and current coach. Morgan was the first Indigenous Australian to be selected to play in a recognised rugby league Test match. [cite web|publisher="Queensland Government:Community Spirit"|title=A league of their own |url=http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/department/publications/communityspirit/2007/edition8/league.html |accessdate=2008-08-10|date=2007-09-01] He primarily played on the wing. [cite web|author=Dr Greg Mallory |publisher="RL1908.com"|title=The Decline of Brisbane Community Culture - An Oral History Perspective |url=http://www.rl1908.com/Rugby-League-News/Brisbane-History.htm |accessdate=2008-08-10]

A New South Wales' Schoolboy representative player, Morgan moved from Tweed Heads to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. In 1960 he was selected for the second and third Tests of the French tour of Australia and, at the end of the 1960 season, he played one match for Australia in the 1960 World Cup, again against France, at Wigan. Morgan's selection for the Tests made him the first Indigenous Australian to represent at an international level in any major national sporting team. [cite web|author=Sean Fagan |publisher="RL1908.com"|title=First Indigenous Rugby League Footballers |url=http://www.rl1908.com/History/indigenous.htm |accessdate=2008-08-10] In 1962 he was named Queensland's "Best Back". [cite web|publisher="Queensland Rugby League"|title=Queensland Indigenous Greats Named |url=http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=3115 |accessdate=2008-08-10]

Morgan's four sons all spent time playing for Wynnum-Manly. [cite news|publisher="Wynnum Herald"|title=Morgan among century’s best |url=http://wynnum-herald.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/morgan-among-centurys-best/ |accessdate=2008-09-13|date=2008-09-01]

Morgan continues his association with rugby league as coach of the Queensland Rugby League's Indigenous Under-16 team. [cite web|publisher="Queensland Rugby League"|title=No Eligibility Dramas For Jones |url=http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=2385 |accessdate=2008-08-10]

In August, 2008, Morgan was named on the wing in the "Indigenous Team of the Century". [cite news|publisher="ABC News"|title=Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/09/2329969.htm |accessdate=2008-08-10|date=2008-08-09]

References

*
* [http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/qld_rep_m.php Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au]

Footnotes