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 Three-quarter back is the back-line positions of wing or centre in either rugby league or rugby union. See also *Rugby league positions *Rugby union positions *Half back (disambiguation) A halfback, half back, or half-back may refer to: * , in ru ...

, he played his club football in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

for Western Suburbs (with whom he won the 1930 NSWRFL Premiership), then for

Sydney University The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's six ...

until his death on the 1933-34

Kangaroo tour Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one-off tour to Papua New Guinea (1991). The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours to ...

Playing career

Morris played first grade for the New South Wales Rugby Football League's Western Suburbs club from 1927 to 1932. 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 The 1933 NSWRFL season was the twenty-sixth season of Sydney’s professional rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership during the season, w ...

, and following strong performances for New South Wales against Queensland, became the club's first player to be selected for the

Australia national team Sport is an important part of Australia that dates back to the early colonial period. Australian rules football, rugby league, rugby union, association football, cricket and tennis are among the earliest organised sports in Australia. Sport ha ...

squad when he embarked on the 1933-34

. Whilst en route by ship to London, Morris developed an ear infection and

meningitis Meningitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Other symptoms include confusion or ...

after swimming at Colombo and disembarked in Malta for medical attention. There he died from complications after surgery.

Funeral and legacy

Morris' body was returned to

for burial. A very large funeral service place at Sydney Town Hall on 23 September 1933. 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. 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 James Joseph Giltinan (1866–1950) was an Australian entrepreneur who helped to introduce the sport of rugby league football to Australia. The J. J. Giltinan Shield, which is awarded annually to the National Rugby League minor premiers, was n ...

(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 Denis "Dinny" Lutge (26 November 1879 – 18 February 1953) was a pioneer Australian rugby league and rugby union player, a dual-code international. He was the second ever captain of the Australian national rugby league team and the first to le ...

, Alex Burdon, Charles 'Boxer' Russell, William "Webby" Neill,

Cec Blinkhorn Cyril "Cec" Blinkhorn (18 April 1892 – 8 April 1977) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s. He played in the NSWRFL premiership for the North Sydney and South Sydney clubs, and also represented New Sout ...

, Claud O'Donnell,

Clarrie Prentice Clarence Warwick Prentice (1 July 1891 – 10 March 1948) was an Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer who represented his country at both sports - a dual-code rugby international. He is the younger brother of fellow Wests player W ...

Harry Finch Harry Alfred Finch (1907–1949) was a professional rugby league footballer in Australia's leading competition - the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in the 1920s and 1930s. Finch was also an Australian Kangaroos, Australi ...

, Arthur Justice,

Eddie Root Eddie Root (1902–1986) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. A New South Wales state and Australia national representative forward, his club career was played in Sydney with South Sydney, Newtown an ...

and

Benny Wearing Benny Wearing (11 June 1901 – 9 April 1968) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. An Australian international and New South Wales representative three-quarter, he played his club football in the NSWRF ...

. 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. 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. The grave of Ray Morris is situated at Waverley Anglican Cemetery, Section 15, Row 24, Grave number 6636. 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." The gravesite is considered an Australian rugby league shrine. 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.Ray Morris Medal
at malteserugbyleague.com

References

External links

at stats.rleague.com

at rugbyleagueproject.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Ray Australian rugby league players Western Suburbs Magpies players Sydney University rugby league team players New South Wales rugby league team players City New South Wales rugby league team players 1933 deaths 1908 births Date of birth missing Rugby league players from Sydney