A Barry teenager has taken a step closer to achieving his dream of a sports scholarship in the United States.
Finn Morgan debuted for the Great Britain under-17 American Football squad in their 32-23 victory over Team Spain.
Finn was in the starting 11 for the game in Calatayud, near Zaragoza, on the offensive line, and was in action for most of the match - his performance proving good enough to keep him in the squad for the 2025 season and not needing to attend trials this year.
A student at SGS Filton, where he is on a two-year BTEC Sports Media course, Finn currently plays for the Bristol-based SGS Pride American Football team. The son of Barry RFC head coach Mike Morgan, he commutes to Bristol six days a week.
Although American Football is strong and professional in Germany, it’s not an alternative he looks to pursue.
“My ambition is to go to the US. I’m doing everything I can, working really hard to achieve that”, he said.
“Now I’m at a college that really supports you, a sort of grassroots that can lead to a US college. Travelling to Bristol from Monday to Saturday is a big commitment but could be worth it in the end.”
Finn knew he was in the GB squad after the final training camp a month before the Spain fixture. Watched by parents Jules and Mike, he was given his starting uniform at the college.
“They made a big fuss out it, and it was a good experience,” said Finn, who wears number 74. “Quite a cool number, so I’m happy with it.”
In Spain on the day before the game, the squad trained in the morning before sightseeing in the afternoon. The following day after the game, both teams enjoyed a post-match celebration, before the UK team travelled home the next day after sightseeing in Madrid.
“On the plane, there was a massive celebration with lots of parents and supporters.”
He said his achievement didn’t really sink in until a few days after the game. “After the trip I suddenly thought ‘wow, I’ve actually played for my country’. We didn’t get a physical cap, we got a medal, but I’ve been capped for my country.”
Finn, who turned 17 last Tuesday, but still qualifies for the under-17 squad, played rugby at Barry before his switch to American Football, but has been “strongly advised” by the coaches at SGS Pride to concentrate solely on gridiron.
“They don’t want me to get injured playing two contact sports,” he said, “I’ve got to be cautious as concussion is a massive issue.”
Although training continues, SGS Pride have no matches until April, so perhaps an appearance in Barry rugby colours could be on the cards.
“If I get to play rugby here until April that would be amazing. I want to play rugby, but I don’t want to jeopardize my body.”
Father Mike, who is “chuffed to bits” about Finn’s achievements, has always had a dream that he would one day “coach my boy at rugby, at senior level, and maybe have five minutes on the pitch with him”.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Finn. “As soon as I can play first team rugby, I will definitely play with my Dad. It would be something special.”
Perhaps in a couple of years’ time…
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