Owen Williams (rugby union, born 1992)
Owen Williams (born 27 February 1992) is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays for Japanese Top League team Red Hurricanes.
| Birth name | Owen Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 27 February 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Neath, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A fly-half, Williams has played club rugby for Welsh regional team the Scarlets and featured in the Wales under-20 national team; helping Wales to third in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships. Initially part of the Ospreys, William's featured regularly in their under-16s and under-18s teams before being signed for the Scarlets in 2010.[2]
At the end of the 2012–13 season Williams departed from the Scarlets and moved to Leicester Tigers. Following the departure of fly-halves George Ford and Ryan Lamb, to Bath and Worcester Warriors, before the start of the 2013–14 season and ex-England fly-half Toby Flood's poor run of form combining with his decision to depart at the end of the season for Toulouse, Williams established himself as the club's first choice no.10. William's fine form and key contributions helped propel an initially misfiring Leicester Tigers back into the top four of the Premiership and into the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup. In the wake of Leicester's 22–16 away win over local rivals Northampton Saints, Williams collecting 17 points from the kicking tee,[3] Leicester's Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill publicly advocated William's inclusion onto Wales's 2014 summer tour to South Africa. Cockerill stating in a BBC interview that: "Owen's starting as our number one now and is keeping a player with 60 England caps [Flood] on the bench...You'd like to think he'd get an opportunity for Wales if he keeps playing like he is".[4]
On 5 January 2015, it was announced Williams had signed a new contract to stay at Leicester Tigers, despite speculation he would be returning to Wales to play for his home region of Scarlets and increase his chances of getting a Wales call-up.[5]
On 11 January 2017, Williams would leave Leicester for Premiership rivals Gloucester Rugby from the 2017–18 season.[6]
In May 2017 he was named in the Wales senior squad for the tests against Tonga and Samoa in June 2017.[7]
In June 2020 it was confirmed Williams had left Gloucester to join Japanese side Red Hurricanes. A club which is under the leadership of former Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.[8]
References
- "Players & Coaches Index : Senior Squad | Coaching Staff". www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- "Owen Williams". Leicester Tigers Official Website. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- "Premiership: Northampton Saints 16-22 Leicester Tigers". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- "Owen Williams deserves Wales spot in South Africa - Cockerill". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- "Owen Williams: Leicester Tigers fly-half opts to sign new deal". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- "Gloucester to sign Leicester Tigers fly-half Owen Williams". Telegraph. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- Wales squad June 2017
- "Gloucester Rugby confirm departing players". Gloucester Rugby. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.