Ray Morris

Ray Morris (1908-1933) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. A New South Wales representative three-quarter back, he played his club football in Sydney for Western Suburbs (with whom he won the 1930 NSWRFL Premiership), then for Sydney University until his death on the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour.

Ray Morris
Ray Morris
Personal information
Full nameRay Benjamin Morris
Born1908
Ashfield, New South Wales
Died10 August 1933 (aged 24–25)
Valletta, Malta
Playing information
PositionThree-quarter back
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1927–32 Western Suburbs 52 29 0 0 87
1933 Sydney University 5 2 0 0 6
Total 57 31 0 0 93
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1931–33 New South Wales 9 5 0 0 15
1931–32 NSW City 2 2 0 0 6
Source: [1]

Playing career

Morris played first grade for the New South Wales Rugby Football League's Western Suburbs club from 1927 to 1932.[2] During this time he helped Wests to victory the 1930 competition's premiership final, scoring a try, and also played in the 1932 season's final.

Morris moved to the Sydney University team for the 1933 NSWRFL season, and following strong performances for New South Wales against Queensland, became the club's first player to be selected for the Australia national team squad when he embarked on the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour.[3] Whilst en route by ship to London, Morris developed an ear infection and meningitis after swimming at Colombo and disembarked in Malta for medical attention.[4] There he died from complications after surgery.[5]

Funeral and legacy

Morris' body was returned to Sydney for burial. A very large funeral service place at Sydney Town Hall on 23 September 1933.[6] The burial later took place at Waverley Cemetery. Four members of the University Rugby League Club -- Ross McKinnon, Tom Monaghan, Gordon Favelle and G.Sullivan acted as pall-bearers together with four members of the Western Suburbs Club.[7] Thousands of people attended the service. Among those who attended were a famous New South Wales Rugby League administrators such as Harry Jersey Flegg (president), W.A. Billy Cann (vice president), Bill Kelly (vice president) and J J Giltinan (Founder). Every club in the New South Wales Rugby League were represented by their executives. Many notable former players attended including Dally Messenger, Denis Lutge, Alex Burdon, Charles 'Boxer' Russell, William "Webby" Neill, Cec Blinkhorn, Claud O'Donnell, Clarrie Prentice, Harry Finch, Arthur Justice, Eddie Root and Benny Wearing. Large crowds gathered outside the Town Hall, and when the cortege moved off, the traffic was blocked for some time. The route to the Waverley Cemetery was lined with crowds of people and there was a large gathering at the graveside.[8] The outpouring of grief in Sydney was enormous and the New South Wales Rugby League sent flowers to the graveside for many decades afterward. On arrival in Sydney on 26 February 1934, many team-mates from the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain visited the grave to pay their last respects.[9] The grave of Ray Morris is situated at Waverley Anglican Cemetery, Section 15, Row 24, Grave number 6636.

The Ray Morris headstone
The grave of Ray Morris at Waverley Cemetery

The headstone reads :- "Ray Morris. Who died at Malta while on tour with Aust. Rugby League Team. (KANGAROOS) 10th August 1933. Aged 25 Years. Loved and Remembered By All."[10] The gravesite is considered an Australian rugby league shrine.[11]

The "Ray Morris Medal", which is awarded by the Malta Rugby League to the Maltese player of the year has been named in Morris's honour since 2008.[12]

References
  1. "Ray Morris - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. Ray Morris at nrlstats.com
  3. Ray Morris at yesterdayshero.com.au
  4. Sydney Morning Herald: "RAY MORRIS - Injured Ear- Infected after bathing." Article - 14/08/1933 (page 10)
  5. Ray Morris: The Tragic Story of University's Kangaroo at rl1908.com
  6. Sydney Morning Herald: "Funeral of Australian Footballer leaving the Town Hall." Photo. 25/09/1933 (page 12)
  7. Sydney Morning Herald: "Late Ray Morris." 22/09/1933 (page 15)
  8. Sydney Morning Herald: "Footballer's Funeral" Large Crowds watch Cortege. 25/09/1933 (page 15)
  9. Sydney Morning Herald. "Kangaroos return to Sydney" 27/02/1934 (page 12) with Photo.
  10. Society Of Australian Genealogists. Headstone Report.
  11. Alan Whitaker, History of Rugby League Clubs
  12. Ray Morris Medal at malteserugbyleague.com
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