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A decade after his role in Bloodgate, Williams finally calls it quits at Harlequins
Ten years after his involvement in the Bloodgate controversy during a European Cup quarter-final against Leinster, Harlequins have announced that academy transition coach and former player Tom Williams is leaving at the end of the current season to pursue a career outside of rugby.
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Williams, who infamously bit into a fake blood capsule to enable Quins get kicker Nick Evans back onto the field in a match they lost 5-6, retired from playing after the 2014/15 season and joined the coaching set up to help develop and mentor talent coming through Harlequins academy.
Over that period, Williams provided invaluable support both on and off the pitch for the club’s young players and ensured their seamless transition to the senior squad. Alongside this role, he was also a regular coach of the Harlequins A League side and supported the commercial arm of the club with its leadership programme, The Business Academy.
As a player, Williams amassed over 200 appearances for Harlequins in a career spanning 13 years which saw him play a pivotal role in securing European, Premiership and Anglo-Welsh Cup silverware. He was one of the first Harlequins academy graduates, setting him in good stead for his later career choice. He scored over 60 tries for the London club and was also selected to represent England 7s in the Hong Kong leg of the World Series in 2004.
On announcing his resignation, Williams said: “Harlequins has been a part of everything that I have done for over 17 years; very nearly half my life. I’ve seen tremendous highs and experienced lows which have tested my resolve to breaking point. However, despite those I do feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of the recent history of this magnificent rugby club.
? After 17 years' service with the Club, former player – and now Academy Transition Coach – Tom Williams will leave Harlequins at the end of the season #COYQ
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) April 10, 2019
“For 13 of those years I got to pull on the quarters and test myself against some of the best players in the world, all the while knowing that next to me fighting the same battle were some of the greatest people you could hope to meet.
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“The Premiership final (in 2012) will obviously remain a key highlight and a lasting memory, but for me it was the moments in the changing room after a game, be it as winners or losers, which I will cherish the most – the ability to look around the room and see the levels your team-mates were prepared to go to achieve that victory.
“The time is now right for me to take a change in my career and move away from rugby into corporate coaching. I can’t wait to spend more time with my wife Alex, our three children Freddie, Arlo and India and to watch a Harlequins game without having to analyse it.
? The first player ever to score a try for Harlequins in a @premrugby Final #COYQ pic.twitter.com/ncsuuWf5uI
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) April 10, 2019
“Finally, I wanted to thank our supporters for everything you do in support of our club, without our people, we wouldn’t be the club we are.”
Chief executive David Ellis added: “Tom has made a valuable contribution to Harlequins in his 17-year tenure both on and off the pitch. As a player he was hugely respected, and a firm fan favourite given his role in one of the most successful periods in our history.
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“As a coach in more recent times he has provided a number of our players with both playing and welfare support as they transition into the senior squad.
“We would like to wish Tom all the best in his future career and look forward to welcoming him back to The Stoop as a spectator for years to come.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments