Danny Williams (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
Danny Williams is an Australian retired professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He retired from playing at the end of Super League XI
following two seasons with Harlequins Rugby League. He was an Irish
international.
.
in 1993. He made a total of 66 appearances for the club, scoring 3 tries and 1 goal.
in 1998. In 1999 Williams came off the bench in the Melbourne Storm's 20-18 Grand Final victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons
.
On 17 July 2004, during round 19 of the 2004 NRL season, Danny Williams king-hit Wests Tigers' player Mark O'Neill. Williams defended the incident, using four medical experts to argue on his behalf that he was suffering post traumatic amnesia
when the incident occurred, which he claims was the result of a high tackle by O'Neill just prior to the incident. Despite Williams' claim he was suspended for eighteen weeks by the NRL judiciary. Even if Williams decided to head overseas the ban would still apply. After the decision was made Williams stated that he was "obviously disappointed with the outcome." It was the longest suspension in Australian rugby league since Steve Linnane
was suspended for twenty weeks for eye-gouging in 1987. In total he made 146 appearances for the club but was released after his ban, and signed for London Broncos (now known as Harlequins RL) in England's Super League
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He retired from playing at the end of Super League XI
Super League XI
Engage Super League XI was the official name for the year 2006's Super League season in the sport of rugby league in Europe. Bradford Bulls were looking to retain the title they won in Super League X....
following two seasons with Harlequins Rugby League. He was an Irish
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
international.
Playing career
While attending Umina High School in 1991, Williams was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys teamAustralia national schoolboy rugby league team
The Australian Schoolboys rugby league team is the national rugby league football team for secondary school students in Australia.The Australian Schoolboys or Australia Schoolboys represent Australia on a national level at rugby league at youth level...
.
North Sydney
Danny Williams first joined the North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
in 1993. He made a total of 66 appearances for the club, scoring 3 tries and 1 goal.
Melbourne
After his spell at the Bears, Williams joined the Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in 1998. In 1999 Williams came off the bench in the Melbourne Storm's 20-18 Grand Final victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
.
On 17 July 2004, during round 19 of the 2004 NRL season, Danny Williams king-hit Wests Tigers' player Mark O'Neill. Williams defended the incident, using four medical experts to argue on his behalf that he was suffering post traumatic amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
when the incident occurred, which he claims was the result of a high tackle by O'Neill just prior to the incident. Despite Williams' claim he was suspended for eighteen weeks by the NRL judiciary. Even if Williams decided to head overseas the ban would still apply. After the decision was made Williams stated that he was "obviously disappointed with the outcome." It was the longest suspension in Australian rugby league since Steve Linnane
Steve Linnane
Steve Linnane is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s, and coach of the 2000s. After playing club football in the Winfield Cup for St. George and Newcastle, he moved to England where he became coach of Rochdale, Halifax and Hull Kingston Rovers.-Playing career:As a...
was suspended for twenty weeks for eye-gouging in 1987. In total he made 146 appearances for the club but was released after his ban, and signed for London Broncos (now known as Harlequins RL) in England's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.