Name Samuel Morfitt | ||
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Died January 16, 1954, Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom | ||
Samuel "Sammy" Morfitt (birth registered January–March 1869 — 16 January 1954 (aged 85)) birth registered in Kingston upon Hull, was a rugby union footballer who played in the 1890s, playing at representative level for England, and at club level for West Hartlepool, and Hull Kingston Rovers, as a Wing, or Centre, i.e. number 11 or 14, or 12 or 13, he died in Kingston upon Hull. Prior to the 1897/98 season, Hull Kingston Rovers was a rugby union club.
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International honours
Morfitt won caps for England while at West Hartlepool in 1894 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1896 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.
In the early years of rugby football the goal was to score goals, and a try had zero value, but it provided the opportunity to try at goal, and convert the try to a goal with an unopposed kick at the goal posts. The point values of both the try and goal have varied over time, and in the early years footballers could "score" a try, without scoring any points.
Change of Code
When Hull Kingston Rovers converted from the rugby union code to the rugby league code for the 1897/98 season, Sammy Morfitt would have been approximately 28 years of age. Consequently, he may have been both a rugby union and rugby league footballer for Hull Kingston Rovers.
Note
Sammy Morfitt's surname is variously spelt correctly with a 'o' as Morfitt, or incorrectly with a 'u' as Murfitt.