Johnnie Williams

Johnnie Williams

Williams in Cardiff jersey
Full name	John Lewis Williams
Date of birth	(1882-01-03)3 January 1882
Place of birth	Whitchurch,[1] Wales
Date of death	12 July 1916(1916-07-12) (aged 34)
Place of death	Mametz, Somme, France
School	Cowbridge Grammar School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Wing
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1899-1903 1903-1914 ? ? 1905	Newport RFC Cardiff RFC London Welsh RFC Harlequin F.C. Glamorgan County RFC
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1906-1911 1908	Wales Anglo-Welsh	17 2	(51) (0)

John Lewis "Johnnie" Williams (3 January 1882 – 12 July 1916) was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Club. A three times Triple Crown winner, out of seventeen appearances for Wales he was on the losing side only twice.

Private Life

He was born the son of Edward Lewis in Llwyncelyn, Whitchurch, Glamorgan.

Williams fought for his country in World War I and served as a captain in the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division. He died in the first few weeks of the Battle of the Somme, in the taking of Mametz Wood.^[2] He is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, near Amiens, France. He was married to Mabel.^[3]

Rugby career

Williams was noted for his side step^[4] and his inward swerve when running the touch-line was a signature move. When the 1906 touring South Africans played Cardiff, Williams managed to side step the great Arthur Marsberg to score a try. As Williams walked back Marsberg was so impressed he approached Williams and shook his hand.^[4]

Williams was first capped in 1906 against the first touring South Africa team. Although seen as one of the worst Welsh performances the selectors kept faith in Williams and he would play for Wales a further sixteen times. Williams was part of three Welsh Triple Crown winning sides, lost only two matches and scored 17 tries in his 17 games. In the 1911 game against France, Billy Trew gave the captaincy to Williams.^[5]

In 1908 Williams was part of Arthur Harding's Anglo-Welsh team that toured the Antipodes. Although an unsuccessful tour Williams played well and ended as the teams top try scorer.^[4]

International matches played

Wales^[6]

•  Australia 1908
•  England 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911
•  France 1909, 1911
•  Ireland 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911
•  Scotland 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911
•  South Africa 1906

Bibliography

• 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. 
• Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd. 

References