Jack Williams (rugby player)

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Jack Williams


caption =
birthname = J. F. Williams
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placeofbirth = Scethrog, Wales
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placeofdeath = Nigeria
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ru_position = Lock
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs = London Welsh
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ru_nationalteam = flagicon|WAL Wales
flagicon|GBR Anglo-Welsh
ru_nationalyears = 1905-1906
1908
ru_nationalcaps = 4
1
ru_nationalpoints = (0)
(0)
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Jack Williams (November 18 1882-1911) was a Welsh international Lock who played club rugby for London Welsh.Smith (1980), pg 138.] He won 4 caps for Wales between 1905 and 1906 and most notably was a member of the winning Welsh team against the original All Blacks.

Of all the Welsh players who made up the 1905 "Champions of the World" team, Williams is the most enigmatic. Over his career he achieved by far the lowest number of caps out of the 1905 team and played the majority of his career outside Wales. It was said that Williams was a good kicker of the ball and "could pick up like a half, pass like a centre and run like a wing". During his club career with London Welsh he captained the club during the 1907/08 season.

International career

Williams made his international debut against Ireland on March 11, 1905 while playing for London Welsh. He was chosen for the 1905 All Blacks game and he proved an excellent choice working well with Harding and Hodges to back up Dai Jones in the pack and line out.Smith (1980), pg 162.] Williams short international career ended in the disastrous 1906 South African game, where dissent surrounding the pack resulted in a Welsh team without cohesion. The selectors decided a 'clean sweep' was required and very few of that team, including Williams, played for Wales again.Smith (1980), pg 188.]

In 1908 Williams was chosen to join Harding's Anglo-Welsh team who toured Australia and New Zealand.

International matches played

=WalesSmith (1980), pg 473.] =

* Ireland 1905
* New Zealand 1905
* Scotland 1906
* South Africa 1906

British Isles

* New Zealand 1908

Later career and death

Williams died at the age of 28 after contracting blackwater fever in Nigeria while on Colonial Service.

Bibliography

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References