Laird Morris

Laird Monterey "Monte" Morris (October 9, 1889 – August 19, 1954) was an American rugby union player who played at scrum-half for the United States men's national team in its first capped match in 1912.

Laird Morris
Morris passes back from a scrum during the 1912 match against Australia
Full nameLaird Monterey Morris
Date of birth(1889-10-09)October 9, 1889
Place of birthCalifornia
Date of deathAugust 19, 1954(1954-08-19) (aged 64)
Place of deathSan Francisco, California
Height5 ft 7.5 in (1.71 m)[1]
Weight150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)[1]
UniversityUniversity of California
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1910–1912 University of California ()
Correct as of November 5, 2018
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1910–1912 United States 1 (0)
Correct as of November 5, 2018
Morris with the US team in 1912 (pictured front row, fifth from left)

Biography

Laird Morris was born on October 9, 1889, in California,[2] the son of Henry Bishop Morris and Mary Kathryn Morris (born Baker).[3] Morris attended the University of California, where in 1910 he earned a place on the varsity rugby team.[4] In 1911, Morris was late to return to the university,[5] but eventually did so and rejoined the rugby team.[6] During the 1912 season, Morris saw his playing time reduced as the coaching staff attempted to develop other players to play his position,[7] although he remained the best player at that position on the university team.[8] At the end of the 1912 season, on November 16, 1912, Morris played for the United States team at scrum-half in its first capped match—a 12–8 loss to Australia.[9] Morris served as the team's captain for this match.[10]

In 1913, Morris did not return to the University of California rugby team.[11] Over the course of his collegiate rugby career, Morris was described as "one of the grittiest halves that ever trailed a scrum,"[11] and as a member of "one of the most brilliant [back field] combinations ever seen on the Coast."[12] As a member of the class of 1913, Morris was a member of the Winged Helmet and Golden Bear honor societies at the University of California.[13][14] Morris died on August 19, 1954 in San Francisco, California.[2]

Notes
  1. "Men Who Will Compose Blue and Gold Varsity Team on Sunday". The San Francisco Call. CVIII (162). November 9, 1910. p. 10. Retrieved November 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Laird Morris". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  3. "Laird Monterey Morris". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  4. Johnson, Elliot (November 7, 1910). "California Camp is Confident of Victory". The San Francisco Chronicle. XCVII (116). p. 10. Retrieved November 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Rugby Absentees Cause of Much Worry". The San Francisco Call. CX (90). Berkeley, California. August 28, 1911. p. 11. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Morris Returns to Berkeley Job". The San Francisco Call. CX (91). Berkeley, California. August 29, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Erskine, Douglas (September 26, 1912). "Games with Clubmen Give Line on Material". The San Francisco Examiner. XCVII (88). p. 11. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "California Rugby Fifteen to Meet Barbs To-Day". The San Francisco Examiner. XCVII (111). October 19, 1912. p. 13. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Australia Tour - Berkeley, 16 November 1912". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  10. 1914 Blue & Gold, p. 145. "California was represented on the team by five players, one of whom, "Monte" Morris, the veteran half-back, was captain."
  11. BOBS. (August 24, 1913). "California Must Depend on New Rugby Material". The San Francisco Chronicle. CIII (40). p. 61. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. BOBS. (December 14, 1917). "California Loses Popular Manager". The San Francisco Chronicle. CXI (152). p. 10. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. The 1913 Blue & Gold of the University of California: Being a Record of the College Year Published by the Junior Class in the Year 1912 (PDF). University of California, Berkeley. 1912. p. 429.
  14. 1914 Blue & Gold, pp. 322–323.

References


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