John Frederick "Jack" Williams (18 November 1882 – 28 August 1911) was a Welsh international rugby unionlock who played club rugby for London Welsh.[1] He won four caps for Wales between 1905 and 1906[1] and most notably was a member of the winning Welsh team in the famous Match of the Century against the original All Blacks.
Jack Williams
Williams at half time of the 1905 All Blacks clash
1905 Wales squad, Williams, back row, second from left
Of all the Welsh players who played in the 1905 Match of the Century "Champions of the World" team, Williams is the most enigmatic. Over his career he achieved by far the lowest number of international caps out of the 1905 team and played the majority of his career outside Wales. It was said that Williams was a good kicker of the ball and "could pick up like a half, pass like a centre and run like a wing".[1] During his club career with London Welsh he captained the club during the 1907/08 season.
Williams began playing rugby while in school at Christ College, Brecon. After moving to London, he joined Welsh exile club London Welsh, also turning out for English side Richmond. Williams made his international debut against Ireland on 11 March 1905 while playing for London Welsh. He was chosen for the 1905 All Blacks game and he proved an excellent choice working well with Harding and Hodges to back up Dai Jones in the pack and line out.[2] Williams short international career ended in the disastrous 1906 South African game, where dissent surrounding the pack resulted in a Welsh team without cohesion. The selectors decided a 'clean sweep' was required and very few of that team, including Williams, played for Wales again.[3]
In 1908 Williams was chosen to join Harding's Anglo-Welsh team who toured Australia and New Zealand.
In 1910, Williams was sent to Northern Nigeria, by the Colonial Office to work in the capacity of a commissioner. It was recorded in The Sportsman that shortly after assuming his post, Williams was shot by a local.[5] The paper went on to state that Williams had recovered from the bullet wound, and that the shooting had been an accident. Williams died the next year, at the age of 28, after contracting blackwater fever in Nigeria while on Colonial Service.
Bibliographyedit
Parry-Jones, David (1999). Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby. Bridgend: seren. ISBN1-85411-262-7.
Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN0-7083-0766-3.
jack, williams, rugby, union, welsh, rugby, player, 1930s, rochdale, hornets, john, williams, rugby, league, born, 1907, john, frederick, jack, williams, november, 1882, august, 1911, welsh, international, rugby, union, lock, played, club, rugby, london, welsh. For the Welsh rugby player of the 1930s for Rochdale Hornets see John Williams rugby league born 1907 John Frederick Jack Williams 18 November 1882 28 August 1911 was a Welsh international rugby union lock who played club rugby for London Welsh 1 He won four caps for Wales between 1905 and 1906 1 and most notably was a member of the winning Welsh team in the famous Match of the Century against the original All Blacks Jack WilliamsWilliams at half time of the 1905 All Blacks clashBirth nameJohn Frederick WilliamsDate of birth 1882 11 18 18 November 1882Place of birthScethrog Powys WalesDate of death28 August 1911 1911 08 28 aged 28 Place of deathNigeriaHeight5 ft 11 1 2 in 182 cm Weight13 st 0 lb 83 kg SchoolChrist College BreconRugby union careerPosition s LockAmateur team s YearsTeamApps Points Richmond F C London Welsh RFCBarbarian F C GlamorganMiddlesex International careerYearsTeamApps Points 1905 19061908Wales Anglo Welsh410 0 Contents 1 International career 1 1 International matches played 1 2 British Isles 2 Later career and death 3 Bibliography 4 ReferencesInternational career edit nbsp 1905 Wales squad Williams back row second from leftOf all the Welsh players who played in the 1905 Match of the Century Champions of the World team Williams is the most enigmatic Over his career he achieved by far the lowest number of international caps out of the 1905 team and played the majority of his career outside Wales It was said that Williams was a good kicker of the ball and could pick up like a half pass like a centre and run like a wing 1 During his club career with London Welsh he captained the club during the 1907 08 season Williams began playing rugby while in school at Christ College Brecon After moving to London he joined Welsh exile club London Welsh also turning out for English side Richmond Williams made his international debut against Ireland on 11 March 1905 while playing for London Welsh He was chosen for the 1905 All Blacks game and he proved an excellent choice working well with Harding and Hodges to back up Dai Jones in the pack and line out 2 Williams short international career ended in the disastrous 1906 South African game where dissent surrounding the pack resulted in a Welsh team without cohesion The selectors decided a clean sweep was required and very few of that team including Williams played for Wales again 3 In 1908 Williams was chosen to join Harding s Anglo Welsh team who toured Australia and New Zealand International matches played edit Wales 4 nbsp Ireland 1905 nbsp New Zealand 1905 nbsp Scotland 1906 nbsp South Africa 1906British Isles edit nbsp New Zealand 1908Later career and death editIn 1910 Williams was sent to Northern Nigeria by the Colonial Office to work in the capacity of a commissioner It was recorded in The Sportsman that shortly after assuming his post Williams was shot by a local 5 The paper went on to state that Williams had recovered from the bullet wound and that the shooting had been an accident Williams died the next year at the age of 28 after contracting blackwater fever in Nigeria while on Colonial Service Bibliography editParry Jones David 1999 Prince Gwyn Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby Bridgend seren ISBN 1 85411 262 7 Smith David Williams Gareth 1980 Fields of Praise The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union Cardiff University of Wales Press ISBN 0 7083 0766 3 References edit a b c Smith 1980 pg 138 Smith 1980 pg 162 Smith 1980 pg 188 Smith 1980 pg 473 Jones Stephen Paul Beken 1985 Dragon in Exile The Centenary History of London Welsh R F C London Springwood Books p 43 ISBN 0 86254 125 5 Sporting positionsPreceded byArthur Harding London Welsh RFC Captain1907 1908 Succeeded byF H Clay Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jack Williams rugby union amp oldid 1142485202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
