Date of birth: 1 January, 1995. Country: Wales

When did you start playing rugby?
With Treorchy U7. One of my brothers was there and my old man (Steve Williams) was a coach. He coached us all the way up until youth, then I had a couple of games for Treorchy firsts, then went to Cardiff Blues U18 and signed an academy contract when I was 18.

Have you played different positions?
I have always been a scrum-half. I like it there because you are always involved.

When did you first play for Wales?
I went to South Africa with the U18s two years ago, then I played for the U20s last season and this. U20 rugby is a lot quicker and it has improved my skills a lot.

And you have played for Wales Sevens for the last two seasons… Yes. I was with them for a lot of this year, at Gold Coast, South Africa and Dubai. It’s good to go to all these places – a different experience again.

Who were your mentors?
My old man, and Clive Jones, who was my coach at Coleg y Cymoedd.

How do you think Wales will do in the U20 World Championship?
We’ve got a tough group (France, England and Japan) but I think we can push on and do well. It was a good experience playing in New Zealand for a month at last year’s World Championship. We should have done better (Wales finished seventh).

What are your aims for next season?
I am full-time with the Blues now. I had a couple of LV= Cup matches for them this season but I was with the Wales teams for most of the year. Next season I want to have
a couple of starts for the Blues first team, if I can, and push on with them.

 

RW Verdict: A quick and brave player, who outfoxes opponents with his unpredictable play, Williams is improving all the time. Expect this bright spark from the Valleys to shine for the Blues in the 2015-16 season.

First published in the July 2015 edition of Rugby World magazine.