Young Gun: Ben Morris – Newcastle flanker

When Ben Morris first tried his hand at rugby he was thrown in at the deep end – and the Newcastle Falcons flanker admits he would not be where he is now if not for his unforgiving education.
As a youngster Yorkshire-born Morris was always into his football but that interest faded at the age of 12 and dad Tim soon took him along to Pontefract RUFC.
His enthusiasm overcame the hesitation of joining the youngest available team – the U16s – and Morris soon learned to trade blows with players four years his senior.
It proved to be valuable schooling when, a few years down the road, he found himself on loan at Blaydon – and then running out in front of thousands of supporters in last year's Premiership 7s.
“I went along to Pontefract when I was 12 – the only team they had was the U16s,” recalled Morris, who made his first start for the Falcons in the LV= Cup last weekend.
“I was fairly big for my age but four years ahead, they were always going to be bigger. It toughened me up and it was good fun.
“At first they did take it easy but I got into it and got used to throwing my weight about. They soon took me in as one of their own. I'm grateful to my dad for not letting me sit on my bum and watch TV.”
The Premiership 7s with the Falcons was Morris's first experience of the top-flight and the newly- promoted side, who won the trophy in 2011, turned a few heads, beating Saints, Sale and Leicester.
“It was quite surreal at first, running out at Franklin's Gardens with 10,000 people there,” he added. “But once you get into it you don't notice the crowd. We had a good set of lads. It was a really good experience and it was my first involvement in Premiership rugby.
“Dean (Richards) has given young players the opportunity – it's our chance to shine and show the senior guys we're pushing them. Watching some of the younger guys and the likes of myself, it is just the opportunity that we have all been waiting for.”
Morris linked up with Leeds Carnegie during his time at QEGS Wakefield, where he featured for the school team in nationally-renowned competitions like the Rosslyn Park 7s and Daily Mail Cup.
But after heading to Newcastle University he found a new club – though the social side of further education occasionally threatened his progression.
“I came on an open day to Newcastle and had my heart set on it and when I came up I played university rugby,” said Morris.
“It was more of the social life that took over. Rugby was always massively important and university work is important as well but I enjoyed university as a social scene and playing rugby on the weekend was a bonus.”
With his university studies ended, Morris is dual-registered with Blaydon, where he enjoys the tutelage of director of rugby Micky Ward – also scrum coach at Falcons.
And he is not short of mentors with academy coach and manager, James Ponton and Mark Laycock, on hand. Morris added: “I've learnt a lot from James Pontin. I'll sit down with him and go over my games – he tells us how it is, which is important.
“Sitting down with Jimmy and Mark at the beginning of the season, I said I just wanted to make one first-team appearance for Newcastle. They said there is no reason why I shouldn't make more.”