Mike Williams
Full nameMichael Patrick Williams
Date of birth (1991-11-04) 4 November 1991 (age 32)
Place of birthBulawayo, Zimbabwe
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb; 260 lb)
SchoolChristian Brothers College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock/Flanker
Youth career
2010–2011 Sharks
2012 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 UP Tuks 16 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Sharks (Currie Cup) 0 (0)
2012–2013 Blue Bulls 3 (0)
2013–2015 Worcester Warriors 51 (10)
2015–2019 Leicester Tigers 80 (10)
2019-2022 Bath 51 (5)
2022-2023 Exeter Chiefs 7 (0)
2023 Leicester Tigers 5 (0)
Correct as of 4 November 2023

Michael Patrick Williams (born 4 November 1991, in Bulawayo) is a Zimbabwean rugby player. He previously played for Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs and Bath in Premiership Rugby, and for Worcester Warriors in the RFU Championship.[1][2] He plays primarily as a lock but he can also play at flanker.

Career

In 2010 and 2011, he captained the Sharks at age-group level in South Africa before playing with Tuks and the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls in 2012 and 2013. He enjoyed an outstanding 2013 Varsity Cup campaign, winning man of the match in the semi-final against UJ.[3]

He moved to England to join Worcester Warriors on a two-year deal.[4] On 1 February 2015, Williams would leave Worcester for Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers from the 2015–2016 season.[5]

On 18 January 2019, Williams would leave Leicester to join Premiership rivals Bath from the 2019–20 season.[6]

Williams received his first call up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones on 1 August 2016 for a pre-season training squad.[7] On 30 September 2016 he was named in the Test squad for the Autumn Internationals.[8] However he was subsequently ruled out of the Tests after breaking his arm.[9]

On 4 July- 2023, Williams re-signed with Leicester Tigers on a short term deal.[10] He left the club in November.

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Mike Williams". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "It's Rugby Player Profile Mike Williams". It's Rugby. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UP-Tuks 1 61–24 FNB UJ". South African Rugby Union. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Forward Mike Williams has agreed to join the Worcester Warriors from the Blue Bulls". Sky Sports. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Leicester Tigers sign Worcester Warriors back-row forward Mike Williams". Sky Sports. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Mike Williams is moving from Leicester Tigers to old rivals Bath for the 2019-20 season". Leicester Mercury. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  7. ^ "England squad: Nathan Hughes in, Danny Cipriani and Chris Ashton out". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ^ "England Rugby: Eddie Jones calls up seven uncapped players". BBC Sport. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Mike Williams: Leicester Tigers flanker breaks arm for third time". BBC Sport. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Leicester Tigers sign Joe Powell, Matt Rogerson, Kieran Wilkinson and Mike Williams". BBC Sport. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.


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