:WillGriff John
{{short description|Wales international rugby union footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{expand French|topic=bio|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = WillGriff John
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = WillGriff John
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|12|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Plymouth, England
| height = {{convert|1.87|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|127|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url= http://www.premiershiprugby.com/squads.php?player=97791&includeref=dynamic|title= Aviva Premiership Rugby - Sale Sharks - Willgriff John profile |work=web page |publisher= Premier Rugby |access-date = 5 October 2017}}
| university =
| relatives =
| ru_currentposition = Tighthead Prop
| ru_currentteam = Sale Sharks
| ru_position = Prop
| youthyears1 = 2009-2010
| youthclubs1 = Cardiff Blues
| years1 = 2010–2013
| years2 = 2013–2014
| years3 = 2014–2017
| years4 = 2017–2021
| years5 = 2021–2023
| years6 = 2023
| years8 = 2024-
| clubs1 = Cardiff Blues
| clubs2 = Northland
| clubs3 = Doncaster Knights
| clubs4 = Sale Sharks
| clubs5 = Scarlets
| clubs6 = Racing 92
| clubs8 = Sale Sharks
| apps1 = 19
| apps2 = 18
| apps3 = 57
| apps4 = 94
| apps5 = 18
| apps6 = 1
| apps8 = 12
| points1 = 0
| points2 = 5
| points3 = 20
| points4 = 0
| points5 = 0
| points6 = 0
| points8 = 0
| repyears1 = 2010–2012
| repyears2 = 2021-
| repteam1 = Wales U20
| repteam2 = Wales
| repcaps1 = 14
| repcaps2 = 3
| reppoints1 = 5
| reppoints2 = 0
|clubs7=US Montauban|apps7=4|years7=2023–2024|points7=0}}
WillGriff John (born 4 December 1992) is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays for Sale Sharks in Premiership Rugby. A tight head prop, John has previously played for Cardiff Blues, Northland, Doncaster Knights, Sale Sharks, and the Scarlets. He won two caps for Wales in 2021.
Club career
Born in Plymouth, England, and raised in the Rhondda in Wales, John began his playing career at Pontypridd and represented Wales at youth levels. He also played for Cardiff Blues and was part of the squad that won the European Challenge Cup in 2010. In 2013 he moved to New Zealand and played for two seasons in the ITM Cup with the province of Northland.
John then returned to the UK and joined Doncaster in the Championship in 2014.{{cite web| url=https://www.drfc.co.uk/news/article/prop-willgriff-john-joins-knights-ranks | title=Prop WillGriff John joins Knights ranks}} On 3 May 2017 John was signed by Sale Sharks in the English Premiership.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39791757 | title=WillGriff John: Sale Sharks sign Doncaster Knights prop | publisher=BBC | date=3 May 2017 | access-date=25 October 2020 }}
John departed Sale to join Scarlets for the 2021–22 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55905229|work=BBC Sport|title=WillGriff John: Scarlets sign prop from Sale|date=2 February 2021}}
At the end of the 2022–23 season, John was released by the Scarlets, and subsequently joined Racing 92 on a short-term contract.{{Cite news |date=22 July 2023 |title=Racing 92 sign Wales prop John as World Cup cover |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66265444 |access-date=22 July 2023}} Following his departure from Racing John joined Pro D2 club US Montauban as a medical joker in November 2023.{{Cite web |title=US Montauban : un pilier international gallois s'engage avec le club sapiacain |url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/11/22/us-montauban-un-pilier-international-gallois-sengage-avec-le-club-sapiacain-11596306.php |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=ladepeche.fr |language=fr}} He rejoined his former club Sale Sharks on a short-term contract as injury cover for Nick Schonert in April 2024{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Sam |date=2024-04-03 |title=FORMER SHARK WILLGRIFF JOHN RETURNS |url=https://www.salesharks.com/2024/04/03/former-shark-willgriff-john-returns/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=Sale Sharks |language=en-US}} and remained at the club for the 2024–2025 season.
International career
On 15 January 2020, John was named in the Wales squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51117440 |publisher=BBC Sport|title=Six Nations: Wales call up teenager Rees-Zammit and Saracens' Tompkins |date=15 January 2020 |access-date=15 January 2020}} He was named in the starting side against Scotland, but the match was cancelled prior to kickoff due to COVID-19.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/56014902|title=WillGriff John: Prop dreams of first Wales cap after 2020 false start|date=10 February 2021|access-date=23 October 2022|work=BBC Sport}}
On 6 November 2021, John made his Wales debut coming off the bench against South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-v-south-africa-team-22052592|title=Wales v South Africa team announcement as Pivac makes six changes to face Springboks|date=4 November 2021|access-date=23 October 2022|work=Wales Online}} John made his first start against Fiji later in the month.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59283051|title=Wales 38-23 Fiji: Laboured hosts hit back to beat 14-man visitors|date=14 November 2021|access-date=23 October 2022|work=BBC Sport}}
On 13 January 2025 John was named in the Wales squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-13 |title=Six Nations 2025: Wales to be captained by Jac Morgan |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/43396348/six-nations-2025-wales-captained-jac-morgan |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Sport links}}
- [https://www.salesharks.com/player/willgriff-john/ Sale Sharks' Player Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:John, WillGriff}}
Category:Cardiff Rugby players
Category:Doncaster Knights players
Category:English people of Welsh descent
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Pontypridd RFC players
Category:Rugby union players from Plymouth, Devon
Category:Wales international rugby union players
Category:Northland rugby union players