Much has been said and written, quite rightly, about the passionate and spirited singing of the Welsh National Anthem by the country’s football supporters watching the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
What is well-known is that the melody for Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was composed by harpist James James in 1856 in Pontypridd, but what is less well-known is that a Glamorgan cricketer, Teddy Morgan, was responsible for its first-ever rendition ahead of the Wales-New Zealand rugby match at Cardiff Arms Park in 1905 and setting in motion the practice of singing national anthems ahead of sporting events.
Born in Abernant in May 1880 and educated at Christ College, Brecon Teddy Morgan first played for Glamorgan in 1903, appearing against Devon at Exeter. At the time, Teddy was mixing his sporting endeavours, playing cricket for Glamorgan and rugby for London Welsh with his medical studies at Guy’s Hospital. Indeed, it was whilst being a medical student that the sporting all-rounder won the first of sixteen Welsh rugby caps, appearing against England in 1902.
The 1905 rugby match between Wales and New Zealand not only saw Dr. Teddy Morgan score the winning try in Wales’ first-ever victory over the All Blacks but saw the 25-year-old medic respond to the tourists ‘haka’ at the Arms Park by leading his team and the crowd, estimated at around 47,000 in a rendition of Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
This tour in 1905 by the New Zealand rugby players to Europe and North America has gone down in sporting history as legendary. The Kiwis scored no less than 976 points and conceded just 59. They won 34 out of their 35 matches with their sole defeat coming at the Arms Park.
After the All Blacks had run onto the ground to much applause, they performed their legendary ‘haka’ in front of a silent crowd before the home supporters, led by Dr. Teddy, sang the Welsh national anthem in an attempt to reduce the perceived psychological advantage of the Maori war-dance.
Teddy Morgan’s final appearance for Glamorgan Cricket came in August 1913 when he played against Wiltshire at Swansea. By this time, Dr. Teddy had a practice in Sketty, and had enjoyed much success with bat and ball for Swansea CC. After the Great War,Teddy became a noted golfer with the Pennard club and played in the Glamorgan Amateur Championships. He subsequently moved in 1927 to a practice in East Anglia and lost sight in his right eye during an accident at a partridge shoot in October 1938. He died in North Walsham in September 1949.