Luke Joseph Morahan

A classy utility back with an imposing 1.9-metre frame and electrifying pace, Luke Morahan achieved the rare feat of representing his country at all levels - schoolboys, U20s, 7s and the Wallabies - before he ventured overseas for a highly successful career in the English premiership.

At the tender age of five, Morahan played his first rugby as an inside back for the Colleges RUC on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It wasn’t until his early teenage years that Morahan found his home on the wing. He played on the flank in each of his two 1st XV seasons at The Southport School (2006-07) and from there won selection for Queensland Schools (2006-07) and Australia ‘A’ Schools (2007).

Morahan debuted on the World Series Sevens circuit at the Dubai event of the 2008-09 season before he played in the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Morahan credited those Sevens experiences, particularly the game’s emphasis on one-on-one tackling, for the improvement in his game on the defensive side of the ball. Still only 19, Morahan joined the Reds Academy and then won his first Super Rugby cap when he came off the bench for the Reds in their 20-31 loss to the Lions. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury and reconstruction surgery sidelined him for the remainder of the domestic season.

Nonetheless, a clearly impressed Australian coach Robbie Deans sprung a major surprise when he selected Morahan to provide cover for injured Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock (calf) and Adam Ashley-Copper (quad) as well as a battered and bruised Digby Ioane (shoulder) for the final few weeks of the 2009 Spring Tour. Morahan did not play in either of the Scotland or Wales Tests but did feature as a replacement in the uncapped victory over the Cardiff Blues (W 31-3).

Somewhat remarkably Morahan didn’t play in any of Reds’ first three matches of the 2010 Super Rugby season. However, in round four and starting at fullback away to the Chiefs, Morahan left an indelible impression when he scored the type of try - from long range - that was to become his legacy. In the 63rd minute, and inside his own 22, Morahan, chased a kick from Daniel Braid. Despite giving five Chiefs a big start, Morahan ran them down, toed the ball ahead, and regathered to score the match winner. Reds’ coach Ewen McKenzie described Morahan’s effort as “freakish”.

The following year Morahan scored six tries as Queensland won the Super Rugby tournament for the first time however Deans couldn’t find him a place in his Rugby World Cup squad. Nonetheless, Morahan continued to put his best foot forward and in 2012 he scored a brilliant counter-attacking try for the Reds in their 13-12 win against the Brumbies in Canberra, one that could not have left anything but an indelible impression on Deans. However, it was in 2013 that Morahan scored what the great Tim Horan described as “one of the best individual tries”. Playing on the left wing for the Reds against the might of the British & Irish Lions, Morahan stepped, weaved, chipped, chased and regathered from 70 metres out to score a try that will long remain in the memory of all who saw it.

After five consecutive seasons and 46 caps for the Reds, Morahan moved to the Western Force in 2014 only to suffer two hamstring injury-interrupted seasons. He returned to health and form in 2016 and was duly rewarded with two additional Test caps. A fractured cheekbone saw him sidelined in 2017 before he chose to leave Australian rugby and join RFU Championship side Bristol.

Highlights

2008/09 Represented Australia in the IRB Sevens World Series

2009 Represented Australia at the IRB Sevens World Cup. Morahan played his first game for Australia in the uncapped, mid-week win over Cardiff on the end-of-season Spring Tour.

2010 Morahan was selected in the Australian U20s squad for the third-annual IRB Junior World Championship tournament in Argentina. He won a silver medal as part of the Australian Men’s Sevens team at the XIX Commonwealth Games in India. Morahan was picked in the senior Wallaby squad for the end-of-season Spring Tour.

2012 He won his first Test cap when selected at full-back in the run-on XV in the 6-9 loss to Scotland at Newcastle. Morahan was later recalled to the Wallabies squad for the Test series against the British & Irish Lions after Brumbies winger Joe Tomane succumbed to a toe injury.

2016 Morahan won his second Test cap off the bench when he replaced Dane Haylett-Petty on the right wing in the 2nd Test, 7-23 loss to England in Melbourne. He won selection on the end-of-season Spring Tour where he was picked at fullback in the 25-23 victory over France in Paris