Dallas role for former Wales prop star Morris

FORMER Wales and Lions prop Darren Morris has been appointed team boss of Dallas RFC.

The much-travelled 42-yearold has been living in America for the past two years, heading up Griffins rugby club in Allen, Texas.

He also has a spell as forwards coach for the Russia national team on his CV, as well as a stint in charge of Russian team Kuban, whom he guided to their best-ever domestic league finish.

He was also Russia’s specialist scrum coach at the 2011 World Cup.

So, he will bring a fair amount of experience to his new job as director of rugby at Dallas RFC.

It really has been been some journey for the Aberdare-born product who kicked off his senior career back in 1992 with a six-year stint at Neath.

He joined Swansea in 1998 and was part of the stellar side that won the Welsh Cup in his first season with the club, handing Llanelli a 37-10 hiding in an unforgettable final at Ninian Park.

Two years later, the All Whites lifted Welsh Premier League title, with the front row of Morris, Garin Jenkins and Ben Evans helping to lay the platform.

Morris’s form was good enough to propel him into the Lions squad for the tour of Australia in 2001, a trip that saw the prop come off the bench in the final Test.

Few front-rowers carried the skills that he possessed, especially around the field. Some argued he didn’t truly fulfil his potential as a player, but as well as playing for the Lions, the Barbarians and winning 18 caps for Wales, he had successful spells at Leicester Tigers and Worcester.

His coaching career has also seen him make a mark at Doncaster Knights, with the former loose-head helping them win promotion back to the English championship in 2013.

In his new role with the Reds, Morris will act as head coach as well as director of rugby and take responsibility for coaching the forwards.