The THIRD Welsh youngster on the radar of leading English clubs will not be heading over the Severn Bride any time soon.
Saracens have already snared up-and-coming prop Rhys Carre from Cardiff Blues and have been linked with the Dragons’ Taine Basham.
Gallagher Premiership clubs are also thought to be casting covetous eyes over the Ospreys’ outstanding scrum-half prospect Harri Morgan.
A source told WalesOnline that Morgan, who has starred against England at age-grade level, is attracting significant attention.
But that is as far as it will go, with the Ospreys having nailed the 19-year-old down on a long-term contract. It was a wise move by the Welsh region at a time when money is tight in the game this side of the Severn Bridge.
Morgan’s potential was there for all to see when he starred against Connacht at Bridgend earlier in the season. The Ospreys had previously thought sufficiently of him to accelerate him into training with their senior squad at the age of just 17.
The Maesteg product is still learning the game but he is a winner to the point where James Hook has said of him: “Mike Phillips and Justin Marshall were big competitors and confident.
“You can probably see a bit of that in Harri as well.”
Rhys Webb helped in Morgan’s development before leaving for Toulon last summer.
Morgan also earned praise from head coach Allen Clarke after becoming the first player born this century to play for the Ospreys.
“He has the tremendous strength of character which you need to play at No. 9,” said Clarke after a European Challenge Cup tie against Pau that saw the teenager start by lumping the ball out on the full, only to refuse to let his head drop and earn reward in the final seconds by supporting a kick ahead from Keelan Giles to claim the Ospreys’ bonus-point touchdown.
“He moved the ball, was tenacious in backfield and probably stole a try from Keelan at the end.
“But that’s him: he’s a winner.”
And a winner who will be staying in Welsh rugby for a while yet, it appears.
