Tom Williams (rugby union, born 1859)

Tom Williams
BornThomas Williams
(1859-10-09)9 October 1859
Died4 February 1913(1913-02-04) (aged 53)
Notable relative(s)Willie Llewellyn, nephew
Occupationsolicitor
Rugby union career
Position Forward
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1880-1888 Cardiff RFC
Pontypridd RFC
Llwynypia RFC
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1882 Wales 1 (0)

Thomas Williams (9 October 1859 – 4 February 1913) was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and Pontypridd and international rugby for Wales. A solicitor by profession, Williams would later become a national selector for the Welsh Rugby Union. Williams was also responsible for suggesting the singing of the Welsh national anthem in a match in 1905, the first time a national anthem was sung before a sporting event.

Williams was born in Llwynypia into a farming community in the Rhondda Valley and in his early years he lived in at the Tonypandy Inn. A solicitor by trade, he trained for his profession in Pontypridd, probably under Spicketts. Williams was the uncle of Wales international and British Lion Willie Llewellyn.