Morgan Williams (rugby union, born 1976)

{{For|other people with the same name|Morgan Williams (disambiguation)}}{{Short description|Canadian rugby union player (born 1976)}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2011}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Morgan Williams

| nickname =

| birth_name = Morgan Andrew Williams

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|04|17}}

| birth_place = Kingston, Ontario

| height = {{convert|183|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|84|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}

| ru_position = Scrum-half

| ru_nationalteam = Canada

| ru_nationalcaps = 58

| ru_nationalpoints = (68)

| ru_nationalyears = 1999–2008

| repsevensyears1 =

| repsevensteam1 = Canada

| repsevenscomp1 =

| ru_sevensupdate =

| ru_clubyears = 1998–2000
2000–2002
2002–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007

| ru_clubcaps =

| ru_clubpoints =

| ru_proclubs = Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Français
Saracens FC
Stade Français
SC Albi

| ru_coachyears = 2009–2010

| ru_coachclubs = Canada 7s

| medals =

{{MedalSport|Women's rugby sevens}}

{{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{flag icon|CAN}} Canada}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalGold|2019 Lima|Team competition}}

}}

Morgan Andrew Williams (born April 17, 1976) is a Canadian rugby union player. His original playing position is scrum half.

A Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native, Williams debuted on the world rugby scene at age 23 when he scored two tries for Canada against France during the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

The 183 cm, 84 kg Williams has played professionally with Bordeaux-Begles (1999–00 season), Stade Français (00-02 and 06 seasons), Saracens (02-05 seasons). Williams beat out Christophe Lassuque to gain the starting role at Stade Français, and Kieran Bracken at Saracens. Williams Played 3 times for the British Barbarians, and was selected in the Martin Johnston vs Joan Lomu North vs South game in Twickenham.

Williams has scored 12 tries and 1 drop-goal for Canada in 56 caps.[http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/player/13190.html Morgan Williams player profile] Scrum.com He has participated in three world cups (1999, 2003, and 2007). He has also played a number of times for Canada in rugby sevens, most notably at the 2001 & 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens and 2002 & 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2005 against Argentina he captained Canada's fifteens for the first time in his career. After the 2007 World Cup he retired from international rugby.

Morgan Williams was announced as the head coach of the Canadian rugby sevens team in 2009 where he led the team to a top 8 world ranking.{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=3817&leagueid=11332&pageid=5188 |title=Men's 7s / Coaches |work=rugbycanada.ca |accessdate=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012035435/http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=3817&leagueid=11332&pageid=5188 |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Williams also coached Canada Men's 7s to a 3rd-place finish in the Work Games in Cali, Colombia.

In 2012 Williams joined Women's Sevens head coach John Tait as the skills coach for the Women's National Sevens Team, who Finished 2nd in the 7s World Cup and 3rd in the first ever Olympics in Rugby Sevens history. In 2016 Williams was announced as the Assistant coach of the team. Currently Williams has helped the Olympic Bronze medalist finish 1st in Sydney, Australia, 3rd in Las Vegas, USA, 2nd in Kitakushu, Japan, and 2nd in Langford, Canada. In 2019, Williams led Canada to a gold medal at the Pan American games in Lima.

In 2019 Williams was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Morgan Williams |url=https://nsshf.com/inductee/morgan-williams/ |website=Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame |access-date=7 January 2025}}