DURSLEY’S Ben Morgan has received the support of the club where he crafted his trade as he tries to come to terms with being part of the England squad that exited the Rugby World Cup last weekend.
The head of Dursley RFC says Morgan can “hold his head high” and that he will “bounce back” from the deep disappointment of this month.
Morgan was acclaimed as the pick of England’s back row in the 33-13 defeat to an outstanding Australia side at Twickenham last Saturday who are now tipped to win the competition.
And, said Dursley RFC chairman Simon Bilous, the way that 26-year-old Morgan has bounced back to not just play in the World Cup but to play well in a disappointing competition for the nation just nine months after an horrific leg break shows how tough the number eight is.
Morgan will return to domestic action in the Aviva Premiership after England’s dead rubber against Uruguay in Manchester on Saturday, which closes a competition they were expected to come close to winning only to become the first host nation in the tournament’s history to go out in the group stages.
But, while the inquests into the position of national coach Stuart Lancaster and the criticism from many ex-players flies across social media, nobody is knocking the durable Morgan.
Bilous said the 6ft 3in back row represented his home club exceptionally well at the World Cup – and now he can go on to much more in his career.
The Dursley RFC chairman said: “First of all, we are very proud of his achievements and for coming back from his injury.
“He also had a bit of bad luck with another injury (knee) during the World Cup but the opportunities he has been presented with, he has taken well.
“He can hold his head up high and we are sorry we will not see him again in this World Cup. We can only imagine what it is like for him and the rest of the squad in going out of the World Cup but Ben will bounce back from this.
“He is a very resilient young man and I am sure he will put this behind him.”
Morgan’s hurt, as will be the case with the rest of the England squad, will be deep and may take a while to get over.
However, he must get over it rapidly and reclaim his England Test spot ahead of ex-Thornbury RFC number eight Billy Vunipola for the upcoming Six Nations Championship which is only just over three months away.
And then Morgan can focus on another massive goal, that of being part of the 2017 British and Irish Lions squad that tours New Zealand and takes on the mighty All Blacks in three Tests that June.
Should that happen, the Gloucester number eight would become the first Dursley RFC man ever to wear the famous Lions jersey.
Bilous added: “There is still a lot to play for, and he has shown by fighting back and getting himself back into the squad from injury that he has the kind of quality that stands him in good stead for the future.”
For Morgan to make the Lions cut would be incredible for him and his army of friends and supporters at Dursley RFC.
Bilous said: “That is a huge target for him to aim for and it would be great if that happened.”
l Dursley get back into Gloucester One action this Saturday after a weekend off. They travel to Bradon Star, who are languishing at the foot of the table without a win in three league games so far.
Dursley will be hoping to add another victory to the handsome 36-5 result they achieved over Southmead at home a fortnight ago.