Texas ranger Morris Wales for Southfork
this week we had 78 players training.
“The standard isn’t bad. We play in the Red River Conference and some of the games can be great to watch.”
Morris has made an impact in the short time he has been based in Dallas.
He takes time out to try to improve individuals as well as the team and the players are responding to his methods.
Reds wing Kelly Kolberg says: “Darren has brought in a lot of what we were missing.
“I have been with the club for 18 seasons, but I have learned a huge amount under him.
“He has brought structure to our game, is very positive and tries to help on a one-on-one basis: the other day he gave me some advice on my breakdown work and it was outstanding. “He is a good guy to have around.” Is Morris in America for the longhaul?
“That’s the $64 million dollar question,” says the 43-year-old. “I’m really enjoying it and there is so much that is positive here.
“But I guess you always keep your options open. “I’ll just see how it goes. “I have picked up a lot of coaching experience over the years. I worked as a scrum coach for the Russian national team at the 2011 World Cup and then became their forwards coach for a year, working with Kingsley Jones.
“I coached at Hartpury College and also held down a director of rugby job at a full-time club in Russia, taking them to their highest-ever position in the league out there.
“I am trying to improve as a coach as I go along and I was fortunate enough to have played under some of the very best.
There was Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and John Plumtree, while I put Darryl Jones and Lyn Jones right up there as well – they coached Neath brilliantly when they went and won the Heineken League title in 1995-96.
“So, I try to take the best of those coaches and add a bit of my own character to make up my own coaching style and outlook.”
A former front-rower with the hands of a back, Morris should have won more than the 19 caps he banked as a player.
But he did enough to tour with the British and Irish Lions in 2001, winning a cap in the final Test against Australia, and looks back fondly on his playing days.
“They are memories to savour,” he says.
“You never forget as a 17-year-old walking into a Neath dressing room that contained the likes of Brian Williams, Kevin Phillips, John Davies, Mike Whitson and Gareth and Glyn Llewellyn. It was an exciting time, but daunting as well.
“Who’s the best player I played alongside? I played alongside too many to single out one as being better than the others. But I know I enjoyed being part of the Swansea front row with Garin Jenkins and Ben Evans.
“Garin was just a fantastic person to know, old school but someone who went with the times with his rugby.
“He was a terrific scrummager and, on the other side, Ben was just an all-round great guy and a morethan-solid set-piece operator.
“I still consider myself fortunate to have played in that Swansea side with the likes of Scott Gibbs, Paul Moriarty, Charv (Colin Charvis), Deano (Dean Thomas) and Lee Jones, an unsung hero at No. 8. “It was a heck of a team.” Morris seems to be having a heck of a time in Dallas, on the training pitch and off it.
One day he might find his way back home, but, for now, he’s happy where he is.
As the old saying goes, not all those who wander are lost.