Harry Williams (rugby union)

Harry Williams (born 1 October 1991) is an English rugby union player for Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs. His position of choice is tight-head prop.[1] He joined Exeter Chiefs from Jersey Reds ahead of the 2015–16 season.[2]

Harry Williams
Birth nameHarry Williams
Date of birth (1991-10-01) 1 October 1991
Place of birthLondon, England
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight126 kg (19 st 12 lb; 278 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013 Loughborough Students ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013
2013–2014
2014–2015
2015–		 London Wasps
Nottingham
Jersey Reds
Exeter Chiefs		 2
20
20
77		 (0)
(0)
(5)
(25)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– England 17 (0)

Williams made his England debut against Argentina on 10 June 2017.[3]

Early life

Williams was born on 1 October 1991 and grew up in Crystal Palace in South London, where his father worked as a bricklayer and his mother as a landscape gardener.[4] He attended Whitgift School in Croydon along with fellow professional rugby players Elliot Daly and Marland Yarde. After leaving school he spent six months at North Shore Rugby Club in New Zealand,[5] before enlisting on an English and sports science degree at Loughborough University, where he also joined the student Rugby Club.[4]

Career

While still a student, Williams was a member of the London Wasps academy, but it was not until he spent a season each first at Nottingham R.F.C. and then at Jersey Reds that he was picked regularly in the squad. In 2015, he was scouted by Rob Baxter at the Exeter Chiefs who signed him and started his Premiership career.[5] He started the final as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016-17 English Premiership.[6]

Due to the ongoing British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, Williams was selected for a depleted England squad to tour to Argentina in 2017. Williams made his England debut, starting against Argentina on 10 June 2017 when England won 38-34. Williams lasted 61 minutes before being replaced by fellow rookie Will Collier.[3] Williams was retained as a starter for the second test, with England going on to win the two-test series. After impressive performances against Argentina, Williams was retained for the end-of-year tests by Head Coach Eddie Jones.

In January 2018, he was named as a part of the 35-man squad for the 2018 Six Nations Championship.[7] At 20 st 11 lbs (132 kg), he was the heaviest player competing in the tournament.[1] Williams made three appearances off the bench in the competition, with regular occupant of the bench Kyle Sinckler serving a suspension.

Personal life

Williams resides in Aylesbeare in Devon and his interests include baking and electronic music.[4] His younger sister Matilda has represented Great Britain at Water Polo.[4][8] He also enjoys hitting hard lines and getting involved in scraps off the bench

References
  1. Slot, Owen. "Why 20st 11lb Harry Williams is England's secret weapon". The Times. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  2. "Chiefs Bring In Williams". Exeter Chiefs. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  3. "England beat Argentina thanks to Denny Solomona's late try". BBC Sport. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. Kitson, Robert. "Exeter's Harry Williams: 'The idea of international rugby is forming a bit more'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  5. Schofield, Daniel. "Back to reality for Harry Williams on quest to prove he has X Factor". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  6. "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  7. "England name squad for Italy ahead of NatWest 6 Nations". England Rugby. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  8. "Water polo makes another splash at the Aquatic Centre in Sunderland". Do It Sunderland. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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