ROYAL MORKEL.
FAMOUS SPRINGBOK. One of the doughtiest forwards a New Zealand team has ever met, died in Somerset AVest, South Africa, on October 23rd —Royal Morkel. Morkel was one of the biggest men, and also one of the strongest players in the Springbok side which visited the Dominion in 1921. Six feet three inches in height, and over 17 stone in weight, he was the fit companion of that other giant, “Baby” Michau, in the van of the Springbok attacks. Morkel, who was a brother of Harry Morkel, a three-quarter in the team, first came into prominence in Rugby in 1913, ami his huge and perfectly moulded body at once attracted attention. In 1919 he represented Cape Province against the Now Zealand Service team, ami in every year since he had been’one of the Cape’s players in the Currie Cup (inter-provincial) tournament. His team regained the cup last year.
Morkel’s death was due to appendicitis, from which (it was afterwards found) he was suffering; when he played his last game of Rugby, in August.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WPRESS19261208.2.6.3
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Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 222, 8 December 1926, Page 2
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175ROYAL MORKEL. Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 222, 8 December 1926, Page 2
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