Let Moral Courage Prevail

The school motto at King's College in Auckland reads: "Let Moral Courage Prevail."

Ben Morgan this year's First XV captain and his family certainty adhere to that sentiment.

Ben wasn't born in New Zealand, he was born in the far-flung Channel Islands.

"My dad Kim is a potter. While he was travelling overseas he met my Mum, Debbie," explains Morgan.

"Mum had a busy lifestyle working in hospitality, but Dad convinced her to come back here and the rest is history."

The Morgan's settled in Hawke's Bay and up until Year 12 Ben attended Lindisfarne College.

He made the First XV in 2013 and played well enough to earn a place in the Hawke's Bay Under-16 reps.

He was noticed at the Hurricanes rep tourney by King's coach Tasesa Lavea. Morgan recalls how he ended up at King's.

"Tasesa got in contact with my Dad and we both went for a tour of King's. I was blown away by the facilities and I found the people very welcoming. I wanted to take my rugby to the next level so relocating to King's was an easy choice."

The carrot of leadership was offered at King's, but leaving Lindisfarne wasn't easy.

"It was tough. I genuinely liked Lindisfarne, but moving to Auckland was the best choice for me. Some people criticised my lack of loyalty, but I was determined to do well as were my real friends."  

Ironically Morgan found his early days at King's close to intolerable.

"I didn't go home in my first term at King's and that was a mistake. I didn't see my family and after about eight weeks I got really home sick," Morgan concedes.

The First XV wasn't entirely successful either.  They finished 7th in 1A despite boasting New Zealand Schools and Hawke's Bay rep Jonah Lowe and Barbarians fullback Shelford Murray.

"It wasn't a great season, but we learned a lot about ourselves and have implemented those lesions in 2015," Morgan says.

Morgan brings leadership experience to King's. He was the captain of the Hawke's Bay under-16's and a few teams at Lindisfarne. What is the key to great leadership?

 "The best quality I bring to captaincy is compassion. You have to get the best out of the boys and you can only do that by understanding their personalities and being supportive at all times."

"It's a demanding job that requires you to be strong and sensible on the field as well as off the field."

With two rounds remaining King's are tied for second, one more win and they will qualify for the semi-finals. King's plays an expansive game and only St. Kentigern College have scored more points than them this season. King's boast a forward back that can match it with the best.

Against Kelston Boys' High School on Land Rover First XV rugby, Morgan illustrated his class by scoring a 50-meter try.

"That was pretty cool, the night before Sam Whitelock had scored one for the Crusaders. As I was running I kept thinking, Whitelock, Whitelock, Whitelock."

Morgan was named man of the match, but laughs there was a shepherd prior to him going through. 

Can Morgan replicate such form on Saturday when King's tackles St. Kent's? King's haven't beaten St. Kent's since 2011.

"There is this perception that St. Kent's is this unbeatable beast, but Sacred pushed them, Auckland Grammar pushed them. We have identified some weakness we hope to exploit."

Morgan identifies the scrum as a possible area of ascendency for King's.

One area where King's hasn't enjoyed ascendency this season is finishing games. Twice they have conceded tries in the 70th minute to lose. The most hurtful setback was against traditional rivals Auckland Grammar School. The Grammar halfback stole the ball from the final scrum. What happened?

"We actually pushed too hard and our No.8 had to go back and get the ball. He got isolated and Grammar produced a championship moment."

Morgan attended the Blues Under-18 camp in the school holidays.

"That was a valuable experience. I learned some things about hitting rucks and grafting that I didn't know, It was very helpful."

Morgan hopes to make the New Zealand Schools team that will tour Australia in October. His interests outside of rugby include art, surf and physics.

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