| Player Profile Robbie Morris | |||||
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  Morris in action in the European Challenge Cup in January this year against Brive. Photo: INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan Robbie Morris joined Connacht last season from Newcastle Falcons and made an instant impact upon his arrival in Galway. The former Six Nations Grand Slam winner has been virtually ever present in Michael Bradley's side since coming West, having nailed down his position in the team and having made 20 appearances in his first season alone. Born in Hertford on 20th February 1982, Morris began playing rugby at the age of five for his local team, Hertford RFC. His athletic ability was recognised at an early age when he began competing at the shot putt and discus, coming second in the English schools championships in the shot putt in 1996, an event he would go on to win in 2000. In 1999 he was selected for the Great Britain team to go to the European Youth Olympics and later went on to compete in Germany for Great Britain juniors. Further success followed in 2000 when he came second at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh in the discus which would prove to be one of his last major competitions in athletics, as a decision had to be made regarding which sport to pursue full time. Morris nearly gave up rugby at this point to concentrate on athletics but was persuaded to continue when selected for England's U18 rugby side. In the summer of 2000 he joined Northampton Saints who had just become the European Champions and in his first season (2000-01) he mainly played for the U21 and second team. The following season he broke into the first team and from Christmas time onwards he played nearly every game for the Saints for the rest of the season. His performances for Northampton were rewarded when he was called up to go on England's tour to Argentina and the following season he sat on the bench for two of England's Autumn internationals against Australia and South Africa before going on to gain his first cap against Wales in Cardiff and a second against Italy at Twickenham during England's Grand Slam winning Six Nations campaign. In 2005 he joined Newcastle Falcons where he made over 40 appearances in two seasons and was selected for his second Churchill Cup Tour having already been on the 2005 tour. In the summer of 2006 he and his partner Caroline were delighted at the birth of their first child Freddie. |
