Tom Williams (rugby union, born 1887)

Tom Williams (c.1887 - 13 August 1927) was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Swansea.[1] He won six caps for Wales. Williams was a member of the 'Terrible Eight', the nickname of the Wales pack from 1914.[2]

Tom Williams

Williams in Welsh cap and blazer
Birth name	Thomas Williams
Date of birth	c. 1887
Place of birth	Dunvant, Wales
Date of death	13 August 1927 (aged 39–40)
Place of death	Swansea, Wales
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Swansea RFC () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1912-1914 Wales 6 (3)

Personal history

Williams was born in Dunvant, Swansea circa 1887. During the First World War he was a captain in the Royal Engineers.[2] He served as a member of the Gower Rural District Council from 1925 until his death in 1927.[2]

Rugby career

Williams came to note as a rugby player when he joined Swansea.[3] Williams was first selected for Wales as part of the 1912 Five Nations Championship 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 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 during the game.[4] His final tournament was during the 1914 Championship where he turned out against England, Ireland and Scotland.[1] 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.[5]

International matches played

Wales

•  England 1914
•  France 1913, 1914
•  Ireland 1912, 1914
•  Scotland 1914

Bibliography

• Jenkins, John M.; Pierce, Duncan; Auty, Timothy (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
• 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

1. "Tom Williams". ESPN. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
2. Jenkins 1991, p. 172. sfn error: no target: CITEREFJenkins1991 (help)
3. "Tom Williams". swansearfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
4. "France (0) 8 - 11 (3) Wales". ESPN. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
5. Pior, Neil. "Wales v Ireland: Rugby's 'most violent game' re-told". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2016.