The 23-year-old Bristol-born No 8, who played his initial club rugby with Dursley Rugby Club in Gloucestershire has signed a three-year contract with Aviva Premiership side Gloucester Rugby.
He has three caps with England in this season’s Six Nations against Scotland, Italy and Wales and now in his third season with the Scarlets became the region’s first-ever capped English international.
Morgan said it had been a very difficult decision to move from the Scarlets one year early from the end of his contract, paying tribute to the West Wales region which he owed the Scarlets, “so much credit for where I am right now”.
The Scarlets forward has appeared 42 times in a Scarlets shirt. He announced his intention to make himself available on an international level for his home country of England in January this year, after also qualifying for Wales on the grounds of three years residency.
Morgan said: “It has been a staggering season for me and I feel privileged and honoured to have been able to represent both the Scarlets and England. I’m grateful for the opportunities handed to me by the Scarlets to play the top-flight club rugby which led me to international selection and my dream to play for England.
“As a proud Englishman, I feel it’s best that I now take my club career forward within the Aviva Premiership and my home country and I am pleased to be joining Gloucester next season as a club with similar values and ambitions as the Scarlets.
“I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the coaches and back-room staff at the Scarlets who’ve been a huge influence and support and helped me achieve so much in a short space of time. So much credit should go to them for what I have achieved.
“It’s been a brilliant three years at Parc y Scarlets and living in Llanelli where supporters have been so loyal, welcoming and supportive.”
Head of Scarlets Rugby Nigel Davies said: “Ben has achieved a great deal in his rugby career since joining us, he’s a committed professional and worked hard in development with us. We’ve discussed his future career with him over the past year and supported his future aspirations.
“We wish him well within England and with Gloucester who we have an excellent working relationship with, they are a good a team of people with values similar to our own and we’re comfortable with the move which works in a rugby context for all concerned and for both businesses.”
“It has been a privilege to be part of Ben’s progression. His contribution to Scarlets performance, as part of a squad of players that supports each other, has been considerable and we are all very proud of what he has achieved.”
Morgan started his career at Dursley in Gloucestershire before joining Merthyr RFC and played for Cardiff Blues U20 before signing for Scarlets
