Samuel Morfitt


Samuel "Sammy" James Morfitt was an English rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1880s and 1890s. He played representative level rugby union for England, Yorkshire and Durham, and at club level for Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers, and West Hartlepool, as a wing, or centre, i.e. number 11 or 14, or 12 or 13, and club level rugby league for Hull Kingston Rovers. Prior to the 1895–96 season, Hull F.C. was a rugby union club, and prior to the 1897–98 season, Hull Kingston Rovers was a rugby union club.

Background

Sammy Morfitt was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, his birth was registered in Sculcoates district, and he died aged 85 in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

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 was 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.