Cliff Morgan in danger of voice loss

Cliff Morgan, rugby legend and epitome of Welshness, is in danger of losing his voice following an operation to his voice box in a Southampton hospital.

Morgan is one of the greats of rugby history, and outstanding Cardiff, Barbarians, Wales and Lions flyhalf in the Fifties. After his playing career he became a BBC commentator on the game with his wonderful words and musical voice. A popular man he has also been a great raconteur.

Now 74 years of age and living on the Isle of Wight, he underwent the operation in Southampton and remains in danger or losing his larynx, which would mean losing his famous voice.

He was famously the commentator when Phil Bennett started the move that ended in Gareth Edwards's try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in Cardiff in 1973, to many the most famous try of all time.

His television commentary was not less famous for being spare:

"Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff. Phil Bennett covering, chased by Alastair Scown.

"Brilliant! Oh, that's brilliant!

"John Williams, Pullin, John Dawes.

"Great dummy! David. Tom David, the half-way line.

"Brilliant by Quinnell. This is Gareth Edwards.

"A dramatic start. What a score!"

Apart from commentary, Morgan was a captain of a team on A Question of Sport and became BBC TV Head of Sport and Outside Broadcast.

His friend and former team-mate, Dr Jack Matthews of Cardiff, Wales and the Lions, a great centre in his day, told The Western Mail: "He had the operation and is still in hospital but I understand he is making a good recovery.

"I have spoken to his wife Pat a couple of times and she says he is doing very well.

"I spoke to Cliff just before the operation and he was in very good spirits."