Rhys Williams (rugby league)

Rhys "Drags" Williams
Personal information
Full name	Rhys Williams
Born	8 December 1989 (age 34); Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, Wales
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	15 st 8 lb (99 kg)
Playing information
Position	Wing, Centre
Club
Representative
	Source: As of 27 October 2023

Last updated October 19, 2024

Rhys Williams (born 8 December 1989) is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

He then played rugby union for Mold RFC and Llanelli Scarlets, before switching to rugby league.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.

Related Research Articles

Ian Watson is a professional rugby league coach, and a former Wales international who played as a scrum-half or hooker in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

Elliott Whitehead is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, and England and Great Britain at international level.

Elliot Kear, is a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, centre or fullback for the Batley Bulldogs in the RFL Championship and Wales at international level. He is now the record 2nd all time Welsh cap holder with 34 caps.

Philip Joseph is a former Wales international rugby league footballer. He played at club level for Huddersfield, Hull Kingston Rovers, Halifax, Oldham, Swinton and the Bradford Bulls, as a prop, hooker, second-row or loose forward.

Rhys Evans is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a wing, centre or fullback mostly recently for the Bradford Bulls in the Betfred Championship. He has played for both the England Knights and Wales at international level.

Rhodri Lloyd is a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Widnes Vikings in the Betfred Championship and Wales at international level.

Greg Eden is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the Featherstone Rovers in the RFL Championship.

Daryl Clark is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for St Helens in the Super League and England at international level.

Gareth "Gaz" O'Brien is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback, scrum-half or stand-off for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.

Ben Evans, also known by the nickname of "Bev", is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a prop for the North Wales Crusaders in the RFL League 1 and Wales at international level.

Dalton Grant is a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the London Broncos in the Betfred Super League and Wales at international level.

Daniel Fleming is a former Wales international rugby league footballer who currently plays for Heath RUFC.

George Williams is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half and stand-off for Warrington Wolves in the Super League and England at international level.

Alex Mellor is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward or centre for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

Ben Hellewell is a Scotland international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for Salford Red Devils in the Betfred Super League.

Jake Mamo is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, who plays as a centre, winger or fullback for the Midlands Hurricanes in the RFL League 1.

Joseph Keyes is an Ireland international rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half and stand-off for the Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Championship.

Regan Grace is a Welsh professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a wing for English rugby union side Bath Rugby.

Innes Senior is an Ireland international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and centre for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League

Samy Kibula is a Congolese professional rugby league footballer who last played as a prop forward for Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

References

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

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Ferguson, Shawn Dollin and Andrew. "Rhys Williams – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". rugbyleagueproject.org.

[2] "Players – Love Rugby League".

[3] tsrugby

[Salford_16-68_Warrington-4] "Salford 16–68 Warrington". BBC. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.

[5] "Castleford Tigers sign Rhys Williams on loan". BBC Sport. 23 May 2012.

[6] "Wales's Rhys Williams to join London Broncos after year in Australia". The Guardian. Press Association. 1 August 2014.

[7] "Salford Red Devils: Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams & Luke Yates join from London Broncos". BBC Sport. 17 October 2019.

[8] "Leeds beat Salford 17-16 after Luke Gale lands late winning drop-goal". BBC Sport. 15 October 2020.

[9] "Wales star Rhys Williams makes Championship move following Salford Red Devils departure". Love Rugby League. 27 October 2023.

[Gleeson_to_lead_new-look_England-10] "Gleeson to lead new-look England". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.

[Crusaders_dominate_Wales'_squad-11] "Crusaders dominate Wales' squad". BBC. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.

[12] "RLEF." rlef.eu.com.

[13] "16-man squad for 9s World Cup revealed". Wales RL. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]