William Williams (rugby)
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" E. Williams was a Welsh
rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1940s who at representative level played rugby union (RU) for Wales XV
, and Monmouthshire County RFC
, and at club level for Newport RFC, playing at Wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and at club level has played rugby league (RL) for Swinton
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
(RU) while at Newport RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
between December 1945 and April 1946.
(RU) against New Zealand in 1945.
Billy Williams was definitely active playing for Wales and the Victory Internationals during the War years as well as working as a Bevin Boy.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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...
and professional rugby 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 1940s who at representative level played rugby union (RU) for Wales XV
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...
, and Monmouthshire County RFC
Monmouthshire County RFC
Monmouthshire County RFC is a Welsh rugby union club that manages an invitational team, known as Monmouthshire that originally played rugby at county level...
, and at club level for Newport RFC, playing at Wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and at club level has played rugby league (RL) for Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
International honours
Billy Williams represented Wales XVWales 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...
(RU) while at Newport RFC in the 'Victory International' non-Test match(es)
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
between December 1945 and April 1946.
County honours
Billy Williams represented Monmouthshire County RFCMonmouthshire County RFC
Monmouthshire County RFC is a Welsh rugby union club that manages an invitational team, known as Monmouthshire that originally played rugby at county level...
(RU) against New Zealand in 1945.
Personal Life
Bill Williams was married to Muriel Hiley (1926-2004) until her death in August 2004. They had one daughter and four grandchildren. After rugby he became a maths teacher in Kent.Note
The page on the walesonline.co.uk website entitled 'Welsh stars still had a rugby ball in wartime' states that Billy Williams had already changed code to rugby league at the time of the 'Victory International' matches. However, the blackandambers.co.uk website indicates that he was still a rugby union footballer for Newport RFC at the time.Billy Williams was definitely active playing for Wales and the Victory Internationals during the War years as well as working as a Bevin Boy.