First Test for Morris

When North Walian Gwyn Morris flies from Heathrow airport on Friday, he will be on his exciting way to his very first Test and it is a big one.

Russia go down to Romania to play the Oaks - a stronger than usual Russian side that has the 2011 World Cup in its sights. Russia has never been to the World Cup but is well placed now.

The two teams play in the European Nations Cup's first division. The two teams at the end of the two-year competition will go directly to New  Zealand, and Russia look the sort of side that could end in the top two. Those most in contention with them have all been to the World Cup before - Romania six times, Georgia twice and Portugal once.

It is a crunch match for Gwyn Thomas Morris born in 1968 in St Asaph, North Wales - an ancient little city (It has the smallest cathedral in Britain) on the River Elwy that Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote about, near  some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales. Hopkins studied theology at the Jesuit college of St Beuno near St Asaph and there he learnt Welsh and fell under the spell of Welsh poetry.

Not surprisingly for someone from St Asaph, Gwyn Morris is a Welsh speaker. He says: "It’s my first language. My English is still improving!"

He received his schooling at mainly Welsh-speaking Ysgol Eifionydd, Porthmadog, a coastal town in Gwynedd, north east Wales, and then his tertiary education at South Glamorgan Institute Cyncoed Cardiff, studying Human Movement Studies and then PGCE.

That led naturally to a teaching post and now he is the head of Physical Education at Whitchurch High School Cardiff, one of the largest comprehensive schools in Britain with 2 400 pupils. Morris says: "The school has a strong sporting tradition and a close link with Macassar High School in Cape Town."

So he lives in Cardiff with his wife Kate and their 20-month-old son Jac Thomas Morris.

Along the way Morris had played rugby in both its brands - rugby union for Cardiff Harlequins and then rugby league for Welsh Students in the 1989 Students World Cup and Combined British Colleges and Polytechnics and also Welsh Colleges and Combined British Colleges and Polytechnics Football team."

Teaching at a sporting school led naturally to coaching and naturally to refereeing. "Although I have refereed in school since I started teaching I started adult matches only about seven years ago.

"I had two reconstructed shoulders so finished since my knees were still ok! And since I coach a lot in school so I did not want to do that outside and was invited by some friends in my local gym to referee for the Cardiff Society."

He joined the Cardiff Referees' Society and now is on his way to his first full international after refereeing several age-group internationals. He has also refereed in the Magners League  for top sides from Wales, Ireland and Scotland and in the EDF Cup for top teams from Wales and England.

Asked who helped along the way, Morris said: "I have had fantastic support from my society and all the Welsh Rugby Union coaches and assessors who have encouraged and given advice. However it was the encouragement of John Wainright, Richard Elliot and Gareth Simmonds up at the local gym that encouraged me to start refereeing. Special mention must also go to the work done by Michael Melick and Scott Fleming during our academy meetings."

What does he like about refereeing: "The ability to stay involved in the game, and making friends with people from all over the world."

What does he hope to achieve as a referee: "I would like to reach my potential before I finish."

The prospect of Saturday's match: "Both sides have had good results recently and are developing well. So I am looking forward to a good game."

Role model: "My Dad."

Ambition: "To be a good Dad!"