Tom Williams (c.1887 - 13 August 1927) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

international forward who played club

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

for

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

. He won six caps for

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. Williams was a member of the 'Terrible Eight', the nickname of the Wales pack from 1914.

Personal history

Williams was born in

Dunvant Dunvant ( cy, Dyfnant) (Dyfn - deep; nant - stream or brook) is a suburban district and community (parish) in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, and falls within the Dunvant ward. It is situated in a valley some 4.5 miles west of Swansea cit ...

, Swansea circa 1887. During the First World War he was a captain in the

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...

. He served as a member of the Gower Rural District Council from 1925 until his death in 1927.

Rugby career

Williams came to note as a rugby player when he joined Swansea. Williams was first selected for Wales as part of the

1912 Five Nations Championship The 1912 Five Nations Championship was the third series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship following the inclusion of France into the Home Nations Championship. Including the previous Home Nations Championships, this was the thirtieth se ...

team. He turned out on 9 March 1912 against Ireland at the Balmoral Showgrounds, in a match Wales lost 12–5. Two weeks later he played his second and last game for Wales, this time at

Rodney Parade Rodney Parade is a stadium in the city of Newport, South Wales, owned and operated by the Welsh Rugby Union. It is located on the east bank of the River Usk in Newport city centre. The ground is on Rodney Road, a short walk from the city's cen ...

against France. Although Wales won the game, it was seen as far too close a match and eight members of the Welsh team played their last Five Nations Championship game. Williams impressed enough to return for the next season and played against France in the 1913 Championship scoring his one and only international

try Try or TRY may refer to: Music Albums * ''Try!'', an album by the John Mayer Trio * ''Try'' (Bebo Norman album) (2014) Songs * "Try" (Blue Rodeo song) (1987) * "Try" (Colbie Caillat song) (2014) * "Try" (Nelly Furtado song) (2004) * " Try (Ju ...

during the game. His final tournament was during the 1914 Championship where he turned out against England, Ireland and Scotland. The match against Ireland in 1914 is seen as one of the most notoriously violent games in international rugby union, and Williams and the rest of the Welsh pack were dubbed the 'Terrible Eight' for their rough style of play.

International matches played

Wales * 1914 * 1913, 1914 * 1912, 1914 * 1914

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Tom 1880s births 1927 deaths Rugby union flankers Rugby union players from Swansea Swansea RFC players Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players