Morris, Oliver

Oliver James Morris played a season for  Pontypridd RFC before he 'went North' and signed for Hunslet in November 1937. He had apparently been brought to Pontypridd from Llanelli by Pontypridd RFC, and provided with a job at Maritime Coke ovens. Morris lodged at a house in Rosser Street, Maesycoed, which also housed another player, Emlyn Walters, who went on to Captain the club. In the Pontypridd RFC 1938 AGM the president of the club, David Williams said

"A great blow had been dealt them when they lost the best post-war player they had had in Pontypridd, in the person of Oliver Morris. Previous to his going the three-quarter line trouble was not so evident, but after his departure they had simply 'gone to rags' and this had greatly affected the gate receipts." 

Hunslet were desperate for a 'stand-off ' and had already tried seven players in that position. Morris hardly looked to be the savior the supporters were looking for. Weighing just 9st 5lb , his greeting from his new team mates was "Eh up! we’ve signed another rabbit!" However, his doubters soon changed their minds, for Morris soon had the crowds in the palm of his "quick Welsh hands".  His tremendous breaks and textbook tackling soon made a favourite. His presence inspired Hunslet, celebrating their golden jubilee, for after losing half of their first ten league fixtures before his debut, only three out of twenty-six were lost following his arrival, and Hunslet finished one point head of Leeds at the top of the table. 

It is an oft told story of league folklore of how in the championship final, played at Elland road before a record 54,112 crowd, the tiny Morris tackled the huge Hey to distraction as Hunslet became champions with an 8-2 victory.  After scoring 21 tries in 55 games for Hunslet in September 1939 he was sensationally transferred to Leeds for what is thought to be the first £1,500 league transfer, his move across the city to Headingly was a shock to the Parkside faithful but represented good business to the Hunslet management who made a handsome profit on the £400 they had laid out for the little Welshman. By the end of his first season he had collected two Welsh international caps, and was considered by many as the man who had won the championship for Hunslet. 

His contract stated  that Leeds would pay Hunslet another fee if war did not break out within a certain period. However, Oliver Morris only played three games before war broke out. At Leeds he played in Challenge cup-winning sides in 1941 and 1942, and in 61 games for the club amassed 198 points (44 tries, 33 goals). He then joined the 1st battalion of the Welch Regiment and was killed in Italy in September 1942, and left a widow, Muriel, in Leeds. Had the war not claimed him, he may have proved himself the greatest of all the rugby league Welsh stand-offs.