Liam Williams (rugby union)

Liam Williams (born 9 April 1991) is a Welsh international union player currently playing for Scarlets. He previously played for Saracens, Llanelli and local club Waunarlwydd RFC either at fullback or wing. Fullback is his preferred position.[2] Williams is known for his unusual running style and his fearless style of play.[3]

Liam Williams
Williams in 2013
Birth nameLiam Williams
Date of birth (1991-04-09) 9 April 1991
Place of birthSwansea, Wales
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight87 kg (13 st 10 lb; 192 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Wing
Current team Scarlets
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Waunarlwydd RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011
2017–2020		 Llanelli RFC
Saracens		 23
24		 (15)
(80)
Correct as of 25 February 2020
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2017, 2020– Scarlets 106 (166)
Correct as of 25 February 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011
2012–
2017		 Wales U20
Wales
British and Irish Lions		 8
62
3		 (15)
(70)
(0)
Correct as of 10:37, 22 October 2019 (UTC)

Club career

A school boy developed by the local Waunarlwydd RFC club, he was not picked up by any of the Welsh regional professional academies, and hence aged 16 started working as a trainee scaffolder at Port Talbot Steelworks, whilst continuing to play for Waunarlwydd.[4]

Aged 20 he was signed by Scarlets, being developed for his first year in 2010–11 at Llanelli RFC.

In 2017, it was announced Williams would be joining Aviva Premiership side Saracens in England on a three-year contract from the 2017–18 season.[5] In part the decision was based on his relationship with London-based Welsh model Sophie Harries, whom he had been dating since 2015.[6] In the 2018-19 season Williams helped Saracens to both the Premiership title and the European Rugby Champions Cup. In the Premiership final against Exeter Williams scored a try.[7][8] He returned to Scarlets with immediate effect on 25 February 2020.[9]

International

In November 2011, Williams was named in the senior Wales training squad for the match versus Australia on 3 December 2011.[10] He made his debut for Wales against the Barbarians on 2 June 2012 at the Millennium Stadium. He scored his first international try on 15 March 2014 versus Scotland and was named Man of the Match.

Williams was selected for the British and Irish Lions in 2017 to tour to New Zealand. Williams was yellow carded in his first match on tour which was a loss against the Blues, but silenced critics with a standout performance against the Chiefs. Williams started in every match of the test series against the All Blacks at fullback instead of his usual position for club and county, on the wing. Williams also set up what was arguably the best try of the series in the first half of the first test.

References
  1. "Wales Senior Squad". Wru.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. Griffiths, Gareth (19 June 2016). "The making of Liam Williams as Wales star wins over NZ critics". Walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/awesome-picture-wales-rugby-stars-15441356
  5. "Saracens sign Wales and Scarlets utility back Liam Williams". The Guardian. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/who-rugby-star-liam-williams-12214182
  7. "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  9. "Liam Williams: Scarlets confirm early return of Wales full-back from Saracens". BBC Sport. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  10. "Warren Gatland gambles on fitness doubts for Australia Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
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