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Morgan aims to celebrate call-up with Euro win

Centre Tyler Morgan is hoping to celebrate his latest Wales call-up by helping fire Dragons to success in the European Challenge Cup against Northampton Saints at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

Ben Mottram | 17/10/2018

Morgan was this week one of six Dragons named in Warren Gatland's 37-strong squad for the autumn Tests against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.

Selection capped off a strong few weeks for the 23-year-old who returned to full fitness in time to help inspire the opening round win in Romania over Timisoara Saracens.

And before he departs for training with Wales, Morgan knows the size of the task ahead in Friday night’s big European showdown under the lights in Newport (kick-off 7.30pm).

"We built some momentum last week and it was a nice game to start with in Romania to get some confidence, while Northampton will be hurting from Clermont and it should be a good test," said Morgan.

"English sides are always strong in the pack but they have some big backs, especially Taqele Naiyaravoro, while Dan Biggar is running the show at 10.

"Clermont showed that they are beatable – although I'm not comparing us to Clermont – and we are going to out there with confidence.

"We will have to front up physically and if we are solid in the scrum, lineout and stop their driving maul then our backs can express ourselves with good possession.

"I was really chuffed to get the call-up,” he added. “I worked really hard to get back fit and the timing has been pretty good, I am really excited to get started on Monday.

"I've had a few bad timings of injuries, especially in the autumn, and it felt like the world came crashing down.

“Then I realised that it wasn't that bad, I just got back to work and came back a lot quicker than I thought I would.

"It was a quick recovery because it was originally a five to six-week injury and I came back in three. It feels pretty good."

Morgan is now keen to re-pay the faith shown in him by Gatland and also impress in his first camp since he was diagnosed with type one diabetes, a condition that is linked to lower body injuries

"I would never call myself unlucky with the situation that I am in because it's a dream job and I get to come to work in shorts every day with a smile on my face,” said Morgan.

"The diabetes came as a shock, but I know how to look after myself now. I inject with insulin every day and check my blood on a little scanner in my arm.

"It's manageable and there are a few professional footballers, rugby players, rowers that do it and it's nothing that is going to impede me.

"Over the last year it felt that I wasn't myself and that I couldn't play my game. I wondered what was wrong and to finally get that answer was a relief, to know that I wasn't just getting rubbish at rugby!

"It's nice to get back on track and getting back in the Welsh squad brings that confidence back."

CLICK HERE to secure your tickets for the Dragons first home match in this year's competition against Northampton Saints on Friday night!

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