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Morgan plays his final home game for the Ospreys this weekend after a season like no other
No season in Welsh rugby is particularly straightforward. There’s usually some sort of off-field drama or implosion from year to year.
Yet this year has been a particularly draining one, particularly for the Ospreys. For months, their very existence has been framed squarely in the crosshairs.
“There’s been a couple, hasn’t there, but no, nothing like this,” admits Jac Morgan.
The Ospreys and Wales captain will make his final home appearance for the club this weekend, ahead of a move – alongside Wales co-captain and close friend Dewi Lake – to Gallagher Prem side Gloucester next season.
Fittingly, Morgan’s last home game is a west Wales derby against his former side, Scarlets. Saturday’s match also marks the last time the Ospreys will play in Bridgend ahead of a move to St Helen’s next season.
“I’m pretty nervous for it, to be honest with you,” said Morgan. “I’ve loved my time here with the Ospreys and the support from all the supporters and everyone has been brilliant over the last few years.
“It’s probably going to be a little bit emotional afterwards.”
Having joined the Ospreys in 2021, all of Morgan’s 24 Wales caps to date have come while at the club.
He was also Wales’ only Test Lion last summer – being involved in two of the British and Irish Lions’ Tests against Australia.
“I came here when I was only 21 and being able to play here and come through here – especially with the players that were here when I first joined, to learn from them and the coaches, even the backroom staff who’ve helped the journey along the way – has been brilliant,” said Morgan about his time at the Ospreys .
“I’ve just got a lot of people to thank for everything that they’ve done. I’ve just loved my time here.
“The biggest thing as well is the friends, and everything that I’ve got with the teammates and everyone who’s involved with the club.
“That’s something that I’ll cherish forever. I’m thankful for everybody who’s helped along the way and I’ll continue to be in contact with them for the future.”
This season in particular has been a tricky one. Ongoing uncertainty over the number of professional teams has cast a spectre over the Welsh game.
Back in January, the Ospreys’ Y11 were chosen as the preferred buyers of Cardiff from the Welsh Rugby Union. That deal has since collapsed.
That uncertainty was a factor in both Morgan and Lake heading to England, but he admits the circumstances have also helped forge an even closer bond at the club.
“It’s brought everyone closer together,” he said. “With the news that broke in January, we are a tight group of boys here.
“Everyone is close. But that brought us tighter. If you look back at the fixtures we played after that, those performances showed how close-knit we are as a group.
“That response to everything was great to see. It’s something all the boys have carried forward over the last few months. The one thing we can control is how we play and train.
“I think the boys have been outstanding. It’s a great group to be a part of. It’s one I’ll miss. I’ve got friends here that have been a great support.
“It’s just credit to everyone that have stayed tight through everything that has happened, ignored some stuff out there and concentrated on trying to put performances out there on a Saturday for the supporters.”
After the high of last summer’s Lions tour, the other reason this season has been testing is that Morgan spent the vast majority of it on the sidelines.
Morgan dislocated his shoulder in Steve Tandy’s first game in charge against Argentina back in November. Having missed the rest of Wales’ games under the new head coach, he didn’t return until March.
With Wales showing some signs of improvement under Tandy, Morgan will be hoping to help that upward curve this summer when he returns to the Wales jersey.
“It is nice to get back into the swing of things, playing a few games. It’s always the toughest part, being injured, but it’s nice to be back out on the field and playing,” the flanker said.
“It’s nice to get back into the routine of it and get a few games under the belt and hopefully some more in the summer.
“It’ll be a great honour to be back involved. Hopefully I get selected, but that’s dependent on Monday and how competitive the back row is, especially in Wales and how the boys played in the Six Nations.
“You can see how much the team are building, how well they’ve been going throughout the Six Nations. It was brilliant to see.
“Speaking to the boys, how much they’ve enjoyed being in the camp. I was there for a couple of weeks back in the autumn, and you can see how exciting it is for the future.
“I’d love to be involved again and excited for it if it does come up.”
