George Williams (rugby league)

George Williams (born 31 October 1994) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL, and England at international level.

For other people named George Williams, see George Williams (disambiguation).

George Williams
Personal information
Born (1994-10-31) 31 October 1994
Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionHalfback, Five-eighth
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2013–19 Wigan Warriors 177 61 70 1 385
2013(loan) → S Wales Scorpions 1 0 0 0 0
2020– Canberra Raiders 22 7 0 1 29
Total 200 68 70 2 414
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– England 10 1 0 0 4
2019– England 9s 3 0 0 0 0
2019– Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
As of 17 November 2020
Source: [1][2][3]

He has previously played for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, and spent time on loan from Wigan at the South Wales Scorpions in Championship 1.

Background

Williams was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.

Club career
Williams playing for Wigan in 2015

Williams was born on 31 October 1994 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and began playing junior rugby league at local amateur teams Ince Rose Bridge and Wigan St Patricks.[2] He joined Wigan Warriors scholarship programme and was signed to their Academy team in 2011 on a four-year contract.[4]

Williams made his senior début in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup in April 2013, scoring a try in a 60–10 victory over Championship club the Leigh Centurions. He made his first Super League appearance a month later against London Broncos, scoring another try, and also played against Widnes Vikings. He returned to the Academy side later in the season, helping Wigan win the under-19 Grand Final with two tries in a 34–10 victory against Leeds Rhinos.[5]

Williams became a regular in the first team during the 2014 season, and signed a new four-year contract in May 2014.[6] He made 23 appearances during the season, scoring seven tries, including his first senior hat-trick against Hull F.C. in July 2014.[7] He appeared for Wigan as a substitute in the 2014 Super League Grand Final defeat by St. Helens.

Following the departure of Blake Green, Williams became the first-choice stand-off for Wigan and was assigned the number 6 jersey before the start of the 2015 season. He played in the World Club Series against Brisbane Broncos. Williams made 33 appearances and was a near ever-present throughout the season, missing only one game early in the year against Huddersfield Giants after suffering an injury during the warm-up.[8]

Williams was awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year award at the Man of Steel awards on 5 October 2015.[9] Williams also played in the 2015 Grand Final, but was again on the losing side as Wigan were defeated 20–22 against the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[10]

He was awarded the Super League Young Player of the Year award in 2015, and helped the team win the 2016 Super League Grand Final, and the 2017 World Club Challenge.

In 2016, Williams again featured in the World Club Series against Brisbane Broncos, scoring one try in a heavy 12–42 defeat. Williams also won his first club honours, with Wigan defeating the Warrington Wolves in the 2016 Grand Final at Old Trafford.[11]

On 19 February 2017, Williams was the stand-out performer in the 2017 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, helping Wigan to a 22–6 win.[12] In April 2017, he signed a new four-year contract with Wigan.[13]

On 26 August 2017, Williams played in his first Challenge Cup final, with Wigan losing 14–18 to Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[14]

He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[15]

On 9 July 2019 it was announced that Williams would leave Wigan to join the Canberra Raiders for the 2020 National Rugby League season.[16]

Williams played 22 games for Canberra in the 2020 NRL season as the club fell one game short of the grand final.[17]

International career
Williams warming up for England in 2016

Williams made his international début for England in 2015, and represented England at the 2017 World Cup.

After an outstanding Super League 2015 season, Williams was selected in the England team for their test series against New Zealand. Williams made his début for England in a test match, before the series, against France which saw Williams score a try in England's rout of their opponents.[18]

In October 2016, Williams was selected in the England squad for the 2016 Four Nations.

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup,[19] making two appearances for England in the group stages.

He was selected in England's 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[20]

He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[21]

Career statistics
SeasonTeamAppsTriesGoalsDGPoints
2013Wigan Warriors32008
201423711050
20153380032
201626120048
20173311541153
20182765034
201934150060
Total17961701385

Honours

Club

Individual
  • Super League Young Player of the Year: 2015

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. "George Williams – Player Profile". Wigan Warriors. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. Rugby League Project
  4. "Warriors Sign Up 13 Scholarship Players". Wigan Warriors. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. "Wigan win Academy Grand Final". Total Rugby League. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. "George Williams: Wigan Warriors half-back signs four-year contract". BBC Sport. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. "Super League: Wigan Warriors 56–10 Hull FC". BBC Sport. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  8. Laybourn, Ian (14 February 2015). "Tomkins looks a class act as Wigan roar back". The Independent. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. Superleague, Twitter. "The 2015 First Utility Super League Young Player of the Year is George Williams". Twitter. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  10. "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  11. "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  12. Bower, Aaron (19 February 2017). "Wigan turn on the style to beat Cronulla and win World Club Challenge". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. "George Williams: Wigan Warriors half-back signs four-year deal with champions". BBC Sport. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  14. "Hull FC 18-14 Wigan recap as the Black and Whites claim back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs". Mirror. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  15. "Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened". Guardian. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  16. https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/09/raiders-sign-test-half-george-williams/
  17. "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  18. "England demolish France 84–4 in record win". Skysports.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  19. "England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold". Mirror. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  20. "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  21. "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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