David Lloyd Williams became part of a remarkable Cardiff rugby dynasty, following in the footsteps of his father Brynmor and playing alongside his brother Tom.
He first played for Cardiff against Leinster in March 2010 and went on to make 261 appearances for the club, including 179 starts, scoring 42 tries, also captaining the side on a number of occasions.
Williams won 32 Welsh caps between 2011 and 2023, making his international debut against Argentina. Perhaps his most memorable moment for the national team came during the 2015 World Cup. Coming on as a replacement (against the hosts, England) he was forced to play on the wing. With Wales defending desperately in in their own half the ball was moved out to Lloyd who was on the touchline. He burst into the England half and delivered a perfectly weighted grubber kick inside that allowed scrum half Gareth Davies to gather and score under the posts, helping Wales knock the hosts out of the tournament.
After 13 seasons with Cardiff, Williams left in 2023 to join Ealing Trailfinders before moving to Worcester and eventually retiring in 2026.
His bond with Cardiff remained strong throughout, having once said: ‘I was a fan of Cardiff before playing rugby, and playing at Cardiff Arms Park was a dream.’ He added that Cardiff were his team and always would be.
