Rice Morgan, who played twice for Glamorganshire during the 1870s, was the son of Rev. Morgan Rice Morgan of Llansamlet in Swansea. Like his brothers William and John, he was an enthusiastic sportsman and whilst his brothers may have had more talent than him, Rice was able to mix his duties as a young doctor and surgeon based in Morriston with his sporting pursuits.
Educated at Llandovery College, King’s College, London and The Royal Free Hospital in London, Rice made his Glamorganshire debut on 17 and 18 July 1871 against Monmouthshire at Usk. Batting in the middle order, he scored 1 and 2. The following year he was appointed Medical Officer of Health in Neath and for a while he put on hold his cricketing activities with Cadoxton CC.
Nevertheless, in July 1875 he was chosen by the Glamorganshire selectors to play against Breconshire at the Arms Park. Once again, he met with little luck, scoring just a single in each innings, but the following month he was chosen to play in the team representing the Gentlemen of West Glamorgan against their counterparts from the East at Merthyr Mawr. He made 0 and 4 in what proved to be his last match of note.
In 1878 Rice was appointed as Medical Officer of Health for the Swansea Union and he opened a practice in Morriston. He subsequently became an expert on lead poisoning, as well as typhoid fever, and wrote various papers on the subject, as well as germ theory, in medical journals.
His elder brother William had been a decent cricketer, playing for the Gentlemen of Breconshire against Herefordshire in 1871, as well as playing for the Gentlemen of South Wales against the Players at Swansea in 1881. Educated at Christ College, Brecon and St. David’s College, Lampeter, William followed his father into the ministry and became Canon of Brecon Cathedral as well as Chaplain to the Bishop of Swansea.
His younger brother John also played cricket for the South Wales CC and the Welsh Wanderers, and appeared in the latter’s match against Breconshire at the Arms Park in August 1881. Educated at Oundle, St. John’s Leatherhead and Jesus College, Cambridge, John’s sporting forte was football and after winning a Blue he won ten Welsh caps between 1878 and 1882. He became a schoolmaster and was Headmaster, and Founder, of Connaught House Prep School in Weymouth.
MORGAN, Edward Rice
Born: Swansea, October 1849.
Died: Llandrindod Wells, 11 March 1924.