Jim Williams (rugby union)

{{infobox rugby biography

| name = Jim Williams

| image = Jim Williams 2011 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| alt =

| birth_name = R.W. Williams

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|12|08}}

| birth_place = Young, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 193 cm

| weight = {{convert|113|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| school =

| university =

| spouse =

| children =

| relatives =

| occupation = Assistant coach

| ru_currentteam = Retired

| ru_position = Flanker /Number eight

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = ?

| years2 = ?

| years3 = 1994–95

| years4 = 1996

| years5 = 1997

| years6 = 1998–2001

| years7 = 2001–05

| years8 = 2015

| clubs1 = Young

| clubs2 = Wests

| clubs3 = W. Hartlepool

| clubs4 = Waratahs

| clubs5 = Warringah

| clubs6 = Brumbies

| clubs7 = Munster

| clubs8 = Greater Sydney Rams

| apps1 = ?

| apps2 = ?

| apps3 = ?

| apps4 = ?

| apps5 = ?

| apps6 = ?

| apps7 = 74

| points1 = ?

| points2 = ?

| points3 = ?

| points4 = ?

| points5 = ?

| points6 = ?

| points7 = 74

| ru_clubupdate =

| provinceyears1 =

| province1 =

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| superyears1 =

| super1 =

| superapps1 =

| superpoints1 =

| repyears1 = ?-1999

| repyears2 = 1999–2000

| repteam1 = Australia (sevens)

| repteam2 = Australia

| repcaps1 = ?

| repcaps2 = 14

| reppoints1 = ?

| reppoints2 = 10

| ru_ntupdate =

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevensteam1 =

| repsevenscomp1 =

| coachyears1 = 2006–07

| coachyears2 = 2007–08

| coachyears3 = 2008–11

| coachteams1 = Munster (Assistant coach)

| coachteams2 = Munster (Forwards coach)

| coachteams3 = Australia (Assistant)

| refereeyears1 =

| refereecomps1 =

| refereeapps1 =

| medals = {{MedalSport | Men's rugby sevens }}

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

}}

Jim Williams (born 8 December 1968) is a former international rugby union player and coach. He was most recently assistant coach to the Australian national rugby union team. Williams was head coach of the Greater Sydney Rams in the National Rugby Championship during 2015, succeeding Brian Melrose

Early life

Born in Young, New South Wales, Williams played rugby league as a boy. He began rugby union after joining the army at age 17. He played for Young RFC, then moved to Brisbane where he played for Wests Bulldogs.{{cite web | first = Charlie | last = Mulqueen | work = Irish Examiner | title = Williams relishing Munster challenge | publisher = Thomas Crosbie Holdings | location = Ireland | date = 11 August 2001 | url = http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2001/08/11/story10076.asp | access-date = 9 December 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

West Hartlepool, England

Williams moved to England in 1994 and played one season with West Hartlepool.{{cite web | first = Chris | last = Hewett | work = The Independent|location=London | title = MacQueen opts for pace of Williams | date = 16 November 2000 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/macqueen-opts-for-pace-of-williams-624144.html | access-date = 9 December 2008}}

Australian rugby

On returning to Australia, Williams played Sydney club rugby while remaining on the fringes of the NSW Waratahs team. It wasn't until he changed to the back row that he was able to find enough form to be picked up by Eddie Jones at the ACT Brumbies in 1998. It was his form playing for the Brumbies that led to his selection for the Australian squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Munster & Ireland

After missing Wallabies selection in 2001, Williams accepted a two-year deal with Munster, and soon captained the Irish club. He played 30 Heineken Cup matches for Munster, and scored 15 points. Williams played until 2005 when he was appointed assistant coach.{{cite web | title = Williams wants more of the same | publisher = BBC | date = 23 April 2003 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/european/2953663.stm | access-date = 9 December 2008 | first = Jim | last = Stokes}}{{cite web | first = Gerry | last = Thornley | work = Rugby Europe | title = Captain Jim | publisher = ERC | date = 16 April 2003 | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/5018_2662.php | access-date = 9 December 2008 | archive-date = 17 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191217180755/http://www.epcrugby.com/home.php | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | title = Jim Williams profile | publisher = ecrugby.com | location = Ireland | url = http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/36_4571.php?player=513&includeref=dynamic | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203134512/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/36_4571.php?player=513&includeref=dynamic | url-status=dead | archive-date = 3 February 2014 | access-date = 11 December 2008}}

Wallabies assistant coach

He continued in coaching roles at Munster until 2008 when new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans offered him the Assistant Coach role. At the start of Australia's international rugby season in June 2008 Williams took up his new role alongside fellow assistant Michael Foley.{{cite web | title = Jim Williams profile | publisher = ESPN | url = http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/13176.html | access-date = 14 January 2014}}{{cite web | title = Wallaby Role For Jim Williams | publisher = Munster Rugby | date = 9 February 2008 | url = http://www.munsterrugby.ie/19_7783.php | access-date = 9 December 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080217063340/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/19_7783.php | archive-date = 17 February 2008}}{{cite web | title = Williams named Wallabies assistant | work = Fox Sports | date = 11 February 2008 | url = http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23193793-23217,00.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121231081613/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23193793-23217,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date = 31 December 2012 | access-date = 9 December 2008}}{{cite web|title=Wallabies Profiles – Assistant Coach – Jim Williams |publisher=Australian Rugby Union |year=2010 |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2010_squad/williams%2C_jim%2C138976.html |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604043111/http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2010_squad/williams%2C_jim%2C138976.html |archive-date= 4 June 2010 }}{{cite web|title=Wallabies Profiles – Assistant Coach – Jim Williams |publisher=Australian Rugby Union |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/qantas_wallabies/qantas_wallabies_profiles/jim_williams_profile%2C88080.html |access-date=9 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202165814/http://www.rugby.com.au/qantas_wallabies/qantas_wallabies_profiles/jim_williams_profile%2C88080.html |archive-date= 2 December 2008 }}

Williams left the Wallabies in 2011.{{cite web | title = Williams leaves Wallabies role | publisher = ESPN | url = http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/156493.html | date = 23 December 2011 | access-date = 23 January 2014}}