Brian Williams (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Brian Richard Williams (9 July 1960 - 7 February 2007) was a Welsh
international rugby union
player.
in Pembrokeshire
, into the West Wales farming community. He began playing rugby at Ysgol y Preseli
, Narberth RFC
and Pembrokeshire RFC, with his brothers John and Anthony. His nephew Andrew is currently a rising star at scrum-half in Narberth's youth set-up, and side player for Wales Under 21 side.
Williams was spotted and signed for Neath RFC
. During a single major club career which spanned 16 years, Williams played for the club more than 250 times. He made his debut as a first-class player in 1983, against Bridgend RFC, and went on to become one of the club's most popular players. He played as a prop, despite his relatively light build (6'1" tall and weighing little more than 14 stone) which belied his incredible strength - Gareth Llewellyn
said that that Williams was "the fittest and most powerful man" he ever played rugby with. Williams was one of three players in Neath's "farming" front row, alongside his near neighbours Kevin Phillips
and fellow prop Jeremy Pugh, later replaced by neighbour John Davies. Williams played in the Neath side that was Welsh Club Champions in 1986/7, 1988/9 and 1989/90, won the inaugural Welsh Premier Division
title in 1990/1, and also won the WRU Challenge Cup
in 1988/9 and 1989/90. Williams featured in the Neath side that set new world records for tries (385) and points (1917) in the 1988-89 season; and played for the club against several international touring sides.
His build may have delayed him being selected to play for Wales, and he had to wait for his international debut until 1990, by which time Neath coach Ron Waldron
had taken charge of the Welsh team. He made his first appearance for Wales in a Five Nations
match against Scotland
in Cardiff
on 3 March 1990. He played in five international matches, all defeats, his final international being the Five Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield
on 2 February 1991. When Ospreys prop Duncan Jones led Wales
for the first time in June 2006, he said that he had "always looked up to Brian Williams in the way he played." Williams retired to run his dairy farm from the first-class game in 1995, having played over 250 games for Neath.
, in Pembrokeshire of a suspected heart attack, having been actively involved in a club reunion at The Gnoll
rugby ground only four days earlier. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player.
Life & Career
Williams was born in Penffordd, near MaenclochogMaenclochog
Maenclochog is a small village in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. It lies at the south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile southeast of the village of Rosebush.Researchers believe to have found the remains of a 13th Century castle at Maenclochog...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, into the West Wales farming community. He began playing rugby at Ysgol y Preseli
Ysgol y Preseli
Ysgol Y Preseli is a bilingual comprehensive 11-18 school situated in the village of Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales that teaches in both Welsh and English.-History:Ysgol Y Preseli was declared an official bilingual school on 1 September 1991...
, Narberth RFC
Narberth RFC
Narbeth RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Narberth in Pembrokeshire. They are the presently members of the Welsh Rugby Union playing in the Division One West league and are a feeder club for the Scarlets. The Otters have also won the Pembrokeshire County Cup competition for the last two years...
and Pembrokeshire RFC, with his brothers John and Anthony. His nephew Andrew is currently a rising star at scrum-half in Narberth's youth set-up, and side player for Wales Under 21 side.
Williams was spotted and signed for Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
. During a single major club career which spanned 16 years, Williams played for the club more than 250 times. He made his debut as a first-class player in 1983, against Bridgend RFC, and went on to become one of the club's most popular players. He played as a prop, despite his relatively light build (6'1" tall and weighing little more than 14 stone) which belied his incredible strength - Gareth Llewellyn
Gareth Llewellyn
Gareth Llewellyn was born 27 February 1969 in St. David's Hospital Cardiff whilst his father was serving in Cardiff with the Army, is a Welsh rugby union player who gained a record 92 caps for Wales as a lock. His record for Wales caps has since been surpassed by Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis,...
said that that Williams was "the fittest and most powerful man" he ever played rugby with. Williams was one of three players in Neath's "farming" front row, alongside his near neighbours Kevin Phillips
Kevin Phillips (rugby player)
Kevin H Phillips is a former Wales international rugby union player.A front row forward, he played club rugby for Neath RFC. Phillips also captained the Welsh national team for two matches in the 1990 season, winning both games....
and fellow prop Jeremy Pugh, later replaced by neighbour John Davies. Williams played in the Neath side that was Welsh Club Champions in 1986/7, 1988/9 and 1989/90, won the inaugural Welsh Premier Division
Welsh Premier Division
The Welsh Premier Division is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented by the Welsh Rugby Union for the 1990–91 season.-Competition history:...
title in 1990/1, and also won the WRU Challenge Cup
WRU Challenge Cup
The WRU Challenge Cup , or its full name of the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union....
in 1988/9 and 1989/90. Williams featured in the Neath side that set new world records for tries (385) and points (1917) in the 1988-89 season; and played for the club against several international touring sides.
His build may have delayed him being selected to play for Wales, and he had to wait for his international debut until 1990, by which time Neath coach Ron Waldron
Ron Waldron
Ronald "Ron" Gwyn Waldron is a former Welsh rugby union international player. He later took up coaching and is best known as the former head coach of Neath RFC during the late 1980s when Neath dominated British rugby for a number of seasons. Waldron built a team of senior international players...
had taken charge of the Welsh team. He made his first appearance for Wales in a Five Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
match against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on 3 March 1990. He played in five international matches, all defeats, his final international being the Five Nations match against Scotland at Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
on 2 February 1991. When Ospreys prop Duncan Jones led Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
for the first time in June 2006, he said that he had "always looked up to Brian Williams in the way he played." Williams retired to run his dairy farm from the first-class game in 1995, having played over 250 games for Neath.
Death
Williams died at the age of 46 in LlangolmanLlangolman
Llangolman is a village and parish on the southern flank of the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is part of the community of Mynachlog-ddu.- History :...
, in Pembrokeshire of a suspected heart attack, having been actively involved in a club reunion at The Gnoll
The Gnoll
The Gnoll in Neath, Wales is a sports ground, with a capacity of 5,000.In July 2009, Neath RFC presented plans for the redevelopment of the Gnoll, including building a community centre on the site, which were criticised as "too woolly".-Rugby union:...
rugby ground only four days earlier. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
External links
- Neath Rugby in mourning for one of its all time great players from Neath RFCNeath RFCNeath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
- Sporting Heroes - Brian Williams