Summary
Harry Anthony Hall Williams (born 1 October 1991) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a tight-head prop for Top 14 side Montpellier. At International level, Williams made his England debut against Argentina on 10 June 2017.[1]
| Birth name | Harry Anthony Hall Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 October 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 126 kg (19 st 12 lb; 278 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Whitgift School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life edit
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.[2] 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 Football Club in New Zealand,[3] before enlisting on an English and sports science degree at Loughborough University, where he also joined the student Rugby Club.[2]
Career edit
While still a student, Williams was a member of the Wasps academy, but it was not until he spent a season each first at Nottingham 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.[3][4] Williams started the 2017 Premiership final as Exeter defeated Wasps to win the first league title in their history.[5]
In April 2017 Williams was called up by coach Eddie Jones for the England tour of Argentina.[6] On 10 June 2017 Williams made his Test debut starting in a 38-34 win over Los Pumas.[1] He played an hour before being replaced by fellow debutant Will Collier.[1] Williams also started the second test as England won the series.[7] He was retained for the end-of-year tests and featured in a victory over Australia.[8]
Williams was included in the squad for the 2018 Six Nations Championship and made three appearances off the bench in the competition.[9] At 20 st 11 lbs (132 kg), he was the heaviest player competing in the tournament.[10] He was a member of the 2018 tour of South Africa and featured off the bench in all three tests as England lost the series 2-1.[11] Williams was also part of the side that finished runners up in the 2019 Six Nations.[12] Later that year he was included in training camps for the 2019 Rugby World Cup but was ultimately not selected.[13]
On 17 October 2020 Williams started for Exeter as they defeated Racing 92 in the Champions Cup final to become European champions for the first time in their history.[14] A week later he also started in the Premiership final as they defeated Wasps to complete a League and European double.[15] In July 2023 it was confirmed that Williams would leave Exeter to join Top 14 club Montpellier.[16]
Personal life edit
Williams resided in Aylesbeare in Devon and his interests include baking and electronic music.[2] His younger sister Matilda has represented Great Britain at Water polo.[2][17]
Honours edit
Exeter Chiefs
References edit
- ^ a b c Standley, James (10 June 2017). "England beat Argentina thanks to Denny Solomona's late try". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d Kitson, Robert (28 April 2017). "Exeter's Harry Williams: 'The idea of international rugby is forming a bit more'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ a b Schofield, Daniel (21 October 2017). "Back to reality for Harry Williams on quest to prove he has X Factor". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ Pilnick, Brent (16 April 2015). "Harry Williams: Exeter Chiefs sign Jersey prop forward". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b Law, James (27 May 2017). "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "England v Argentina: Dylan Hartley, Joe Launchbury & George Ford in squad". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Standley, James (17 June 2017). "England wrap up series 2-0 with 35-25 win over Argentina". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Fordyce, Tom (18 November 2017). "Autumn international: England 30-6 Australia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ English, Tom (24 February 2018). "Six Nations: Scotland 25-13 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Slot, Owen (31 January 2018). "Why 20st 11lb Harry Williams is England's secret weapon". The Times. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Standley, James (23 June 2018). "England beat South Africa 25-10 in third Test but lose series 2-1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Fordyce, Tom (23 February 2019). "Wales 21-13 England: Hosts fight back to seal record-breaking win in Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Meagher, Gerard (12 August 2019). "Eddie Jones admits to fears over World Cup indiscipline after Ben Te'o axed". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b Henson, Mike (17 October 2020). "Champions Cup: Exeter beat Racing 92 31-27 to lift first Champions Cup title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (24 October 2020). "Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Harry Williams: Former Exeter and England prop joins Montpellier". BBC Sport. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Water polo makes another splash at the Aquatic Centre in Sunderland". Do It Sunderland. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
External links edit
- ESPN profile
- Career stats at Statbunker