Rugby World Tour Tales - Guess the Weight
Life was very different when the late, great Cliff Morgan made his Wales debut against Ireland in 1951, as this tale from his autobiography demonstrates. It relates to his bus journey from Trebanog to Cardiff Arms Park to play in the match (which finished 3-3).
"Luckily for me the bus used to stop outside the house and toot in the morning to hurry me up. It was full this morning, being an international day, and all around they were talking about my first cap without recognising me.
One conversation was unbelievable. One man asked, "How the 'ell will he cope with them big fellows, McCarthy, McKay and O'Brien? 'E's only a titch – too bloody small. I know 'im well, see 'im regular. Bet you 'e's not more than ten stone."
"Don't talk daft, he's more than that, mun. Saw 'im at a do last week, got big shoulders. I reckon 'e's 11 stone if 'e's an ounce."
And so the argument on my poundage continued. Suddenly the more aggressive of the two turned to me for an opinion. "You're standing there saying nothing. What do you think Morgan weighs?"
"Twelve stone," I offered with confidence.
"Bloody rubbish!"
"I'll tell you he is," I said.
He turned to his captive audience. "Would you credit it?" he asked. "It's always the same. Them who knows bugger all about it do always argue."
