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Owen Williams (rugby union, born 1992)

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For other people of the same name, see Owen Williams (disambiguation).

Owen Williams
Birth nameOwen Williams
Date of birth (1992-02-27) 27 February 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthNeath, Wales
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb)[1]
SchoolYsgol Gyfun Ystalyfera
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Inside centre
Current team Ospreys
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2013 Llanelli RFC 48 (319)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013 Scarlets 15 (149)
2013–2017 Leicester Tigers 101 (635)
2017–2020 Gloucester 44 (121)
2020–2021 Red Hurricanes 2 (8)
2021–2022 Worcester Warriors 6 (36)
2022– Ospreys 28 (110)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Wales U18
2012 Wales U20 4 (0)
2017– Wales 10 (10)

Owen Williams (born 27 February 1992) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for the Ospreys. He has represented Wales and Wales U20.

Club career

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Initially part of the Ospreys, Williams featured regularly in their under-16s and under-18s teams before being signed for the Scarlets in 2010.[2]

At the end of the 2012–13 season Williams departed from the Scarlets and moved to Leicester Tigers. Following the departure of fly-halves George Ford and Ryan Lamb, and former England fly-half Toby Flood's poor run of form combining with his decision to depart at the end of the season for Toulouse, Williams established himself as the club's first choice outside half. Williams's fine form and key contributions helped propel an initially misfiring Leicester Tigers back into the top four of the Premiership and into the quarterfinals of the Heineken Cup. In the wake of Leicester's 22–16 away win over local rivals Northampton Saints, Williams collecting 17 points from the kicking tee,[3] Leicester's Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill publicly advocated Williams's inclusion onto Wales's 2014 summer tour to South Africa.[4]

On 5 January 2015, it was announced Williams had signed a new contract to stay at Leicester Tigers, despite speculation he would be returning to Wales to play for his former region, the Scarlets, and increase his chances of getting a Wales call-up.[5]

On 11 January 2017, Williams agreed a deal to leave Leicester for Premiership rivals Gloucester from the 2017–18 season.[6]

In June 2020, Williams left Gloucester to join Japanese side Red Hurricanes Osaka, led by former Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.[7]

On 28 April 2021, Williams returned to England to sign for Premiership side Worcester Warriors from the 2021–22 season.[8]

On 5 October 2022, all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.[9] Following his release from Worcester, Williams joined the Ospreys on 6 December 2022, as injury cover heading into their European campaign.[10] Williams made his Ospreys debut on 11 December 2022, coming off the bench against Leicester Tigers.[11]

Williams signed a permanent Ospreys contract on 25 April 2023.[12]

International career

[edit]

Williams featured in the Wales under-20 national team; helping Wales to third in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[13]

In May 2017 he was named in the Wales senior squad for the 2017 Wales rugby union tour of Tonga and Samoa.[14] He made his debut coming off the bench against Tonga on 16 June 2017.[15]

Williams was again selected by Wales for the 2017 Autumn Internationals. Williams started against both Australia and New Zealand at inside centre.[16]

Williams was set to win his fourth cap for Wales against Ireland in the 2020 Six Nations, having been named on the bench, but was injured in training and subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.[17]

On 17 January 2023, Williams was recalled to the Wales squad for the 2023 Six Nations squad.[18] He came off the bench on 4 February 2023 in the opening match against Ireland, the same fixture he was due to play in three years prior, and more than five years after his last cap.[19] Williams made his first start for Wales at fly-half against England on 25 February 2023, and retained his position for the following match against Italy, as Wales earned their first win in the tournament.[20] Williams moved back to the bench for the final fixture against France.

References

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  1. ^ "Players & Coaches Index : Senior Squad | Coaching Staff". gloucesterrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Owen Williams". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Premiership: Northampton Saints 16-22 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Owen Williams deserves Wales spot in South Africa - Cockerill". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Owen Williams: Leicester Tigers fly-half opts to sign new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Gloucester to sign Leicester Tigers fly-half Owen Williams". The Telegraph. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Gloucester Rugby confirm departing players". Gloucester Rugby. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Warriors sign Wales international Owen Williams". Worcester Warriors. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Fly-half Williams joins Ospreys as injury cover". BBC Sport. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  11. ^ Orders, Mark (11 December 2022). "Ospreys v Leicester Tigers: Live updates". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Wales fly-half Williams signs new Ospreys deal". BBC Sport. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Wales claim best ever JWC finish - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. ^ Wales squad June 2017
  15. ^ Lane, Ellis (16 June 2017). "Owen Williams makes brief appearance on debut as Wales labour to win over Tonga". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  16. ^ Southcombe, Matthew (17 October 2018). "The disappearance of Owen Williams in less than 12 months". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Williams out for rest of Six Nations". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad". Welsh Rugby Union. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Ireland cruise to Six Nations win over Wales". BBC Sport. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Fly-half Williams reflects on 'rollercoaster' time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
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