Tom Williams played for the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues before heading to Jersey
Jersey a perfect coaching fit for Williams
As far as dream starts go, Tom Williams’ first tentative steps into full-time coaching couldn’t have gone much better with Jersey Reds.
The former Cardiff Blues and Scarlets flyer has seen his side harvest maximum points from their opening two games to sit proudly at the top of the RFU Championship.
As Jersey Reds head to Yorkshire to take on Doncaster Knights in round three of the RFU Championship, the 30-year-old says: “I’m learning new things about myself every single day and it is a completely different challenge and a completely different lifestyle to playing.”
Prior to moving to the Channel Islands, Williams admits moving into coaching wasn’t at the forefront of his mind but as one of the senior members of the ambitious Jersey side, his leadership qualities soon stood out and his career goals soon changed.
“When coming to Jersey I wasn’t really thinking about becoming a coach but playing here for two years, I had a bit of a light bulb moment really. I was just in training, I was sort of a leader in a way because I was one of most experienced guys here, and something clicked and that’s how the coaching bug began.”
Initially Williams began his baby steps into coaching by taking the reins of the women’s team before coaching the Jersey amateur side – roles which were a ‘privilege’ to take according to the former Wales Sevens player.
Williams has now stepped up to the championship side where he works alongside Harvey Biljon and Rob Webber.
“I’m assistant coach so I coach the backs – Rob and myself are the only rugby coaches with Harvey Biljon the director of rugby. I assist Rob with all the attack.
Tom Williams joined the coaching staff at Jersey Reds after two seasons as a player (Pic: Rich Chapman Photography)
“This role is massive for me, a massive opportunity to coach in the championship. It’s my first coaching gig and I’m really happy to be doing it. I absolutely love it and this is what I want to do for the foreseeable,” he adds.
Williams is proud of the groundwork he has put in, particularly in raising the profile of the women’s game on the island.
“Coaching the women was a really good stepping stone for me as it was a big challenge at that time because of covid. We engaged as many women as possible and kept them interested in the game which was a big challenge but it worked,” he says.
The Stade Santander International outfit has proved a happy hunting ground for Welsh players en route to enhancing their international playing prospects. Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy and Will Rowlands have all spent time with Jersey before becoming Welsh internationals and there is no shortage of Welshmen at the club presently with Jac Roberts, Max Ayling, Macaulay Cook and Dragons prospect Luke Yendle all on the books.
Jack Roberts is among a number of Welshmen playing for Jersey
And with decent weather all round with quality golf courses, what’s not to like going to Jersey?
“I think it’s such a good opportunity. If you are not in a regional squad or the regional mix, it’s a good opportunity to come to the championship and play a lot of rugby and get back to where you want to be,” says Williams.
“That might be the Blues or Scarlets or it might even be in the English Premiership – we have got Jac Roberts here who has played for Leicester Tigers, and we’ve got Macaulay Cook here whose played nearly 170 games for Cardiff Blues so it’s a great place to play rugby and the standard is very good in the championship,” says Williams.
“It’s a lovely place and I’m very very lucky to live on such a lovely island the weather’s always good which is nice and the beaches are lovely.”
Williams, the younger brother of Cardiff Rugby and Wales scrum-half Lloyd, is not thinking too far ahead as he concentrates on the season ahead with Jersey.
“At the moment I’m just trying to be in the present and trying to learn as much as I can here at Jersey. I like to think I’ve got a good future here and can learn the game in the championship. I’ve got Rob Webber here who’s obviously an ex-England international and he’s my his head coach. I’m learning so much off him and Harvey Biljon at the moment.
Tom Williams is enjoying the switch from playing to coaching with Jersey Reds (Pic: Rich Chapman Photography)
“The experience is great. I think in the future I’d love to come back to Wales and obviously coach regional sides and aim high. But I think at the moment I’m just trying to put in the stepping blocks and not looking too far into the future.
“Over here at Jersey we’re trying to breed the whole togetherness theme. It’s all about being together and there’s no sort of hierarchy here, we are all the same, coaches and players and it’s great we have got that.
“We started this season off really well, a tough game against London Scottish – it’s a tough place to go and then last weekend we gained maximum points at home against Bedford. This season we’re aiming as high as possible, we want to be high up in the league table.
“We’ve got a great squad, a very hard working squad and we are aiming to be one of the top teams. We feel that we’re one of those sides this year who can be a major threat in the championship.”
