Rhys Williams (rugby league) explained

Rhys "Drags" Williams
Fullname:Rhys Williams
Birth Date:1989 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, Wales
Height:5feet
Weight:99abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Retired:no
Club1:Warrington Wolves
Year1start:2010
Year1end:13
Appearances1:29
Tries1:21
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:84
Club2:Crusaders RL
Year2start:2011
Appearances2:10
Tries2:6
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:24
Club3:Castleford Tigers
Year3start:2012
Appearances3:8
Tries3:4
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:16
Year4start:2013
Appearances4:4
Tries4:0
Goals4:0
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:0
Club5:Swinton Lions
Year5start:2013
Appearances5:16
Tries5:9
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:36
Year6start:2014
Appearances6:24
Tries6:11
Goals6:0
Fieldgoals6:0
Points6:32
Club7:London Broncos
Year7start:2015
Year7end:19
Appearances7:154
Tries7:100
Goals7:0
Fieldgoals7:0
Points7:400
Club8:Salford Red Devils
Year8start:2020
Year8end:23
Appearances8:55
Tries8:18
Goals8:0
Fieldgoals8:0
Points8:72
Club9:Swinton Lions
Year9start:2024
Year9end:present
Appearances9:0
Tries9:0
Goals9:0
Fieldgoals9:0
Points9:0
Teama:Wales
Yearastart:2008
Yearaend:present
Appearancesa:33
Triesa:22
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:88
Teamb:Wales 9s
Yearbstart:2019
Yearbend:present
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
New:yes
Source:[1] [2] [3]
Updated:27 October 2023

Rhys Williams (born 8 December 1989) is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who plays as a er for the Swinton Lions in the RFL Championship and Wales at international level.

He has played at club level for the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, and on loan from Warrington at Crusaders RL, Castleford and Salford in the Super League and the Swinton Lions in the Championship. He also played for the Central Queensland Capras in the Queensland Cup and the London Broncos in the Championship and the Super League.

Background

Williams was born in Wrexham, Wales.

He attended Argoed High School.

He then played rugby union for Mold RFC and Llanelli Scarlets, before switching to rugby league.

Upon leaving Salford Red Devils at the end of the 2023 season he started training as a PE teacher in Chester.

Playing career

Warrington

Williams scored his first try for Warrington in the 68–16 win over Salford at Murrayfield on 1 May 2010, at the Magic Weekend in Edinburgh.[4]

Crusaders RL

At the beginning of the 2011 season, Williams went back to his hometown of Wrexham to play for the Crusaders on loan. He scored his first try for the club against Salford at the Millennium Stadium on 13 February 2011, at Magic Weekend in Cardiff. After 6 games with the Welsh club, he was recalled to Warrington.

Castleford

He later spent time on loan at Castleford.[5]

Salford

Williams went on loan to the Salford club.

Central Queensland Capras

In 2014, Rhys joined the Central Queensland Capras in the Intrust Super Cup.

London Broncos

In August 2014, Williams signed a contract that would see him move back to England in 2015. He signed with a Championship club, the London Broncos.[6] In October 2019, Williams signed a contract to join Super League side Salford. Williams left London having scored 100 tries for the club in 152 games.[7]

Salford (Second Spell)

On 17 October 2020, he played in the 2020 Challenge Cup Final defeat for Salford against Leeds at Wembley Stadium in which he scored a sensational length of the field try.[8]

Swinton Lions

On 27 Oct 2023 it was reported that he will join Swinton Lions for 2024 on a 2-year deal.[9]

International career

Rhys is Wales' most capped player with 33 as of November 2022. Williams was named in Wales team to face England at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[10] [11] He has subsequently earned a further 9 caps for Wales, including several games during the 2010 Alitalia European Cup. During that tournament Williams scored a hat-trick of tries against Scotland.

Having won the European Cup, Wales earned a spot in the 2011 Rugby League Four Nations. Again, Williams was named in the Welsh squad for the end of season tournament, and played for Wales in every match, scoring a try against Australia.

In 2012, two tries in a fixture against France saw Williams overtake Iestyn Harris to become Wales' all-time leading try scorer.

He played again for Wales in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

In October 2014, Williams played in the 2014 European Cup.[12] He scored a try in the opening game against Scotland.

In October and November 2015, Williams played in the 2015 European Cup.

In October 2016, Williams played in the 2017 World Cup qualifiers, scoring two tries in the country's opening game against Serbia.

He was selected in the Wales 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[13]

Rhys was selected again for the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup in October 2022.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rhys Williams – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project. Shawn Dollin and Andrew. Ferguson. rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. Web site: Players – Love Rugby League.
  3. http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_19184.html itsrugby
  4. Web site: Salford 16–68 Warrington. BBC. 1 May 2010. 1 May 2010.
  5. News: Castleford Tigers sign Rhys Williams on loan. BBC Sport . 23 May 2012 .
  6. Web site: Wales's Rhys Williams to join London Broncos after year in Australia. Press Association. 1 August 2014. The Guardian.
  7. News: Salford Red Devils: Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams & Luke Yates join from London Broncos. BBC Sport . 17 October 2019 .
  8. News: Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal. BBC Sport . 15 October 2020 .
  9. Web site: Love Rugby League . 27 Oct 2023. Wales star Rhys Williams makes Championship move following Salford Red Devils departure.
  10. Web site: Gleeson to lead new-look England. BBC. 9 October 2008. 10 October 2008.
  11. Web site: Crusaders dominate Wales' squad. BBC. 3 October 2008. 10 October 2008.
  12. Web site: RLEF... rlef.eu.com.
  13. Web site: 9 October 2019. 16-man squad for 9s World Cup revealed. Wales RL. 1 November 2019.