Wigan RUFC are celebrating this week after director Frank Morgan received national recognition for his contributions to rugby at the Crabbie’s National Rugby Awards.
Taking home the Rugby Lifetime Achievement Award, Morgan was selected ahead of five other finalists on the night, with the ceremony held at Twickenham Stadium.
The Wigan RUFC stalwart made his debut for the club in 1969 but hung up his boots in the 1970s, concentrating on developing the next generation of talent.
Holding the position of chairman from 1991-2012 – there isn’t a section of the club hasn’t been touched by Morgan’s dedicated work, or his legendary character.
“I’m the director at the club now, unpaid, having been chairman for 21 years, president before, they’ve now dropped me to director!” said Morgan.
“I’ve no votes at all, I’ve nothing! But I love it!
“I’m surprised to get this award but it means everything to me and the club, the town in general.
“My town is wonderful, it’s a wonderful, wonderful town and I love, I love the people and I love rugby.
“I tell my grandkids, they both play, and I tell them ‘Carry on playing, if you enjoy it as much as I have you’ll enjoy life’.
The Crabbie’s National Rugby Awards celebrate the best of English rugby from grassroots to the very pinnacle of the game – and were created in 2015 with former England captain Chris Robshaw playing a major part.
Now a director, Morgan never misses a senior match and as he approaches 50 years of service for the club, the heartbeat of Wigan RUFC still has plenty more to give.
He added: “We’re 150 years of age, and we’re no better now than we were 150 years ago! We’re probably worse actually!
“We’re actually a fantastic club, very well respected, more friends outside the town than in the town but it’s a great club.
“It’s the people in rugby who matter, they’re wonderful.
“I’ve no idea why I’ve won the award, I’ve been in the game a long time I guess.
“Last year we were the junior section award and we’ll be back next year I expect, we’ll bring somebody else up next year to win.”
Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer passionately supports rugby at all levels. The brand returns as the Headline Sponsor for the 2018 National Rugby Awards after partnering with the event for the first time in 2016.
