Born in Whitchurch, Cardiff, Johnny Williams was one of the most prolific try-scorers in the club’s history. The winger played 199 matches for Cardiff between 1903–04 and 1910–11, scoring 150 tries – a club record that stood for 40 years.
Williams captained Cardiff in 1909–10 and featured in victories over South Africa and Australia, scoring one try against the former and two against the latter. He won 17 Welsh caps between 1906 and 1911, enjoying three Grand Slam seasons and losing just twice.
He was also joint Wales record try-scorer alongside Reggie Gibbs, averaging a try per match until the record was eventually surpassed by Sir Gareth Edwards in 1976. Williams toured New Zealand and Australia with the Anglo-Welsh ‘Lions’ in 1908, appearing in two Tests and finishing as the tour’s leading try-scorer.
Williams was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015. His life was tragically cut short during the First World War, when he died from wounds sustained at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.
