Martyn Williams facts for kids
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| Birth name | Martyn Elwyn Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 September 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pontypridd, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (15 st 4 lb; 214 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Coedylan Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Martyn Elwyn Williams (born 1 September 1975) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player. He was a flanker, which is a key position in rugby. Martyn is famous for playing 100 games for the Wales national team. This was a record for a forward player for many years.
He also played for the British & Irish Lions, a special team made up of players from the UK and Ireland. He toured with them three times: to Australia in 2001, New Zealand in 2005, and South Africa in 2009.
Contents
Martyn Williams: A Rugby Legend
Playing for Clubs
Martyn Williams started his club rugby career with Pontypridd. He helped them win the Welsh league in the 1996–97 season. Later, in 1999, he moved to Cardiff RFC.
He became captain of Cardiff in 2002. He continued as captain when the team changed to the Cardiff Blues in 2003. He played many exciting matches with the Blues.
One memorable game was a Heineken Cup semi-final in 2009. His team, the Cardiff Blues, played against Leicester Tigers. The game was tied even after extra time. It was decided by a penalty shootout, which was very rare in rugby. Martyn missed a kick, and Leicester won.
Martyn Williams announced his retirement from club rugby in March 2012. This was at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Playing for Wales
Martyn Williams played for Wales at every junior level before joining the senior team. He earned his first cap for the Wales A team in 1996. Later that year, he played his first senior game against the Barbarians.
His first game in the Five Nations Championship was against England in 1998. He first captained Wales in 2003 against Scotland.
Grand Slams and Milestones
Martyn played his 50th game for Wales against England in 2005. This was during the 2005 Six Nations Championship. He was a very important player when Wales won the Grand Slam that year. A Grand Slam means winning every game in the Six Nations tournament. He scored two tries against France in Paris, helping Wales win. He was named the best player of the 2005 Six Nations Championship.
After the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Martyn said he would retire from international rugby. But he made a surprise return in 2008. The new coach, Warren Gatland, asked him to come back. He was a key player in Wales's 2008 Grand Slam win. Many people thought he was one of the best players in that tournament.
Martyn holds the Welsh record for most appearances in the Five and Six Nations championships. He played his 100th game for Wales against the Barbarians on 2 June 2012.
Playing for the British & Irish Lions
Martyn Williams was chosen to play for the British & Irish Lions team. This team is made up of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. He went on tours with them to Australia in 2001 and New Zealand in 2005.
He was also part of the Lions squad that toured South Africa in 2009. Playing for the Lions is a huge honor for any rugby player.
Life Outside Rugby
Before becoming a rugby star, Martyn Williams also played football. He was a centre-back for the Welsh YMCA Under-16 football team.
In 2012, Martyn was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This honor was given to him for his great contributions to rugby. In July 2012, he also became an honorary fellow of Cardiff University.
See also
In Spanish: Martyn Williams para niños
