William Williams (rugby union)
William Edward Osborne Williams (15 December 1866 – 22 June 1945) was a Welsh rugby union forward who played for Cardiff and London Welsh, and who earned five caps for Wales between 1887 and 1890. He captained Cardiff and was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead.
Williams made his Wales debut in the 1887 Home Nations Championship against Scotland, a heavy defeat for Wales. He played again in the next game at Birkenhead, which Wales won largely thanks to a drop goal by Arthur Gould. He did not play in 1888, but appeared once in 1889 and twice in 1890. In 1890, Wales achieved its first win over England with Williams in the side.
His international career ended after a serious injury in November 1890 while playing for Cardiff against Newport, which cut short his playing days. He had just become Cardiff captain, and his vice-captain D. W. Evans was promoted to captain thereafter.
Williams died in Chepstow, Wales, on 22 June 1945, aged 78.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:44 (CET).