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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox Rugby biography
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Matt Williams
| name = Matt Williams
| image =
| image =
| birth_name = Matthew Brian Williams
| birth_name = Matthew Brian Williams
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| height = 5 ft 11 in
| height = 5 ft 11 in
| weight =
| weight =
| coachyears1 = 1997–1999
| ru_coachyears = 1997–1999 <br />2000–2003 <br />2003–2005 <br> 2007–2010<br>2017
| coachyears2 = 2000–2003
| ru_coachclubs = [[NSW Waratahs]] <br>[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] <br />{{nrut|Scotland}} <br> [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] <br />[[Timișoara Saracens]]
| coachyears3 = 2003–2005
| coachyears4 = 2007–2010
| coachyears5 = 2017
| coachteams1 = [[NSW Waratahs]]
| coachteams2 = [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
| coachteams3 = {{nrut|Scotland}}
| coachteams4 = [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
| coachteams5 = [[Timișoara Saracens]]
}}
}}


'''Matt Williams''' (born 1960) is a rugby union coach who is best known for having led the [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland men's national rugby union team]] between 2003 and 2005 to 14 losses in 17 starts. Williams has also coached club sides in Australia, and other teams in Europe. Currently, he works as a radio and television pundit.
'''Matt Williams''' (born 1960) is an Australian former [[rugby union]] coach. Since 2015 he has worked as a pundit for [[Virgin Media One|Virgin Media Television]] and has written for [[The Irish Times]] since 2011.


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
Williams played from 1978 to 1992 with both [[Eastwood Rugby Club|Eastwood]] and [[West Harbour RFC|Western Suburbs]] Rugby Clubs in [[Sydney]] and one season with [[Swansea RFC]] in Wales.
Williams played from 1978 to 1992 with both [[Eastwood Rugby Club|Eastwood]] and [[West Harbour RFC|Western Suburbs]] Rugby Clubs in [[Sydney]] and with [[Swansea RFC]] in Wales.


==Coaching==
==Coaching==


Williams started in coaching Western Suburbs U20s in Sydney, Australia in 1992. A year later he became head coach of his former club Eastwood in Sydney in 1993, immediately taking them to the semi-finals in both 1993 and 1994. {{Cn|date=June 2022}} A major improvement from their lowly position when he arrived. Later that year he gained representative recognition when he was appointed fitness and skills coach for the Emerging Wallabies' tour of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.
Williams started by coaching Western Suburbs U20s in Sydney, Australia in 1992. A year later he became head coach of his former club Eastwood in Sydney in 1993.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} Later that year he was appointed fitness and skills coach for the Emerging Wallabies' tour of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.


In 1995 his coaching stints included New South Wales A, New South Wales Sevens, and as assistant coach for an Australian XV against England A. He was also a coaching assistant at the Wallaby World Cup camps.
In 1995 his coaching stints included New South Wales A, New South Wales Sevens, and as assistant coach for an Australian XV against England A. He was also a coaching assistant at the Wallaby World Cup camps.


He also coached the Balmain Tigers 7s team in the Coca-Cola World Sevens in Sydney, winning the Cup. Williams, a lifelong "Balmain Tigers man" said it was "one of the best experiences of his life."
In addition to national coaching duties, Williams also coached the Balmain Tigers 7s team in the Coca-Cola World Sevens in Sydney, winning the Cup.


In 1996 he became manager and assistant coach for the [[New South Wales Waratahs|NSW Waratahs]] Super 12 campaign. For the next three years he was Head Coach for the [[New South Wales Waratahs|NSW Waratahs]].
In 1996 he became manager and assistant coach for the [[New South Wales Waratahs|NSW Waratahs]] Super Rugby campaign. For the next three years he was Head Coach for the [[New South Wales Waratahs|NSW Waratahs]] in Super Rugby.

Williams claims he was "instrumental" in mentoring and coaching such great players as Chris Whitaker, [[David Campese]], [[Matt Burke (rugby union, born 1973)|Matt Burke]], [[Tiaan Strauss]], [[Phil Kearns]] and [[Jason Little (rugby union)|Jason Little]].


===Ireland===
===Ireland===
In the autumn of 1999, he acted as backs coach in [[Leinster Rugby]]'s European Cup campaign, a prelude to becoming the province's head coach in 2000. Williams also undertook the role of defensive coach for the Irish national team in 2001. He was the first Australian Super 12 Coach to move to Europe.<ref name =personally>{{cite web|url=http://www.personallyspeakingbureau.com/speaker/matt-williams/ |title=Matt Williams – Personally Speaking Bureau |access-date=23 May 2015}}</ref>
In the autumn of 1999, he acted as backs coach in [[Leinster Rugby]]'s European Cup campaign, becoming the province's head coach in 2000. Williams also undertook the role of defensive coach for the Irish national team in 2001. Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League Final and were knocked out at the semi-final of the European Cup.


Williams also was appointed Head Coach of Ireland "A" (not to be confused with the actual Irish team) in 2002-03 and won the Six Nations title with the "A" team.
Williams said that in the three years at Leinster he "was part of a great group of men" who rose through the European rankings from thirty-five to second. Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League Final and were semi-finalists of the European Cup.

Williams coached the former British and Irish Lions Captain [[Brian O'Driscoll]], as well as [[Gordon D'Arcy]], [[Shane Horgan]], [[Malcolm O'Kelly]] and [[Denis Hickie]].

Williams also was appointed Head Coach of Ireland "A" in 2002-03 and won the Six Nations title with the "A" team.


===Scotland===
===Scotland===
After success with Ireland A, Williams was reportedly{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} "head hunted" by the [[Scottish Rugby Union|SRU]] and, in 2003, he was appointed as the head coach of [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]. Williams was only the second Australian in over a century to be appointed as a head coach in the Six Nations Championship - and the Scottish national men's team's first foreign coach.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
In 2003, he was appointed as the head coach of [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] but was axed in 2005 having only secured 3 wins out of 17 test matches.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/apr/25/rugbyunion.scotlandrugbyunionteam | title=Williams axed by Scotland | newspaper=The Guardian | date=25 April 2005 }}</ref>


After his Scotland tenure, Williams returned to Australia and became head coach of West Harbour rugby club in Sydney from 2006 to 2007 before returning to Ireland to take over [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] team mid-season, after they had sacked former coach [[Mark McCall]].
Scotland won three games out of 17 under William’s tenure - against the Tier 2 nations [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] in 2004, and against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] in the 2005 [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]. Williams controversially discarded Townsend - a celebrated figure in Scottish rugby, then aged only 30 - a week prior to the unveiling of his first national squad, despite an admission that his team lacked experienced centres.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}


Williams resigned from the post of Head Coach at Ulster Rugby in May 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/8060560.stm Williams resigns as Ulster coach] BBC.co.uk, 20 May 2009</ref>
Williams was sacked as Scotland head coach in April 2005 having the worst win percentage of any Scottish permanent head coach.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-04-25|title=Williams sacked as Scotland coach|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4483233.stm|access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref> Scotland's results immediately picked up with the arrival of new coach [[Frank Hadden]], a former schoolteacher.


In 2011 he was head coach of [[RC Narbonne|Club Narbonne Méditerranée]] in France. He resigned in July 2012.
===Later career===


He then returned to Australia and in 2013 he set up the rugby programme at the Knox Sports Academy in Sydney.
After his Scotland tenure, Williams returned to Australia and became head coach of West Harbour rugby club in Sydney from 2006 to 2007 before returning to Ireland to take over a very troubled [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] team mid-season, after they had sacked former coach [[Mark McCall]]. Ulster were last in the Magners League and in danger of missing out on the ERC. Williams got Ulster off the bottom of the ladder and into the next European season. In his autobiography, Man and Ball, [[Stephen Ferris]] is extremely critical of Williams’ abilities as a coach.


Williams had a brief three-month stint, advising the [[Timișoara Saracens]]club in Romania{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, and he left in November 2017.
Williams then resigned from the post of Head Coach at Ulster Rugby in May 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/8060560.stm Williams resigns as Ulster coach] BBC.co.uk, 20 May 2009</ref>

In 2010, he led a group of Australian businessmen in taking over the famous [[RC Narbonne|Club Narbonne Méditerranée]] in France. Williams held three roles within the club. Director Sportif, Head Coach and General Manager. After two years Williams was in deep disagreement with Australian owners, who he felt were not taking the club in the direction that was best for the club's future. He resigned in July 2012. Williams has since been proven correct in his beliefs, as Narbonne have had several horror years, culminating with the club being relegated to Federal 1 (French 3rd Division) and the Australians losing control of the club. Several of the young players he "mentored" at Narbonne have gone on to excellent playing careers in the Top 14, including Vincent Rattez who was Capped for France in 2020.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

He then returned to Australia and in 2013 he set up the rugby programme at the Knox Sports Academy in Sydney. The academy results progressed quickly under his coaching, resulting in Knox winning the CAS in 2015 and 2016. The programme also produced several Australian Schoolboy players and Connor Watson who was contracted by the Sydney Roosters and now {{when|date=February 2022}} is playing with the Newcastle Knights in the NRL, Lachlan Swinton who is contracted with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby and Nick Frost at the Brumbies.

Williams had a brief three-month stint, advising the [[Timișoara Saracens]]club in Romania{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, however, the club was paralysed with financial difficulties, and he left in November 2017, with the club leading their pool of the EPCR.


==Media==
==Media==
Since 2007 Williams has worked extensively in the Irish media. He is the International Rugby guest writer with ''[[The Irish Times]]'' for all international matches. He is a guest commentator on Today FM's ''Matt Coopers, Last Word'', Newstalk's ''Off the Ball'', and the ''Second Captains'' podcasts.
Since 2007 Williams has worked in the Irish media. He has been the International Rugby guest writer with ''[[The Irish Times]]'' for international matches. He has been a guest commentator on Today FM's ''Matt Coopers, Last Word'', Newstalk's ''Off the Ball'', and the Eamon Dunphy podcasts.


Williams has worked extensively on television. Working for the ABC in Australia on match analysis, then in Ireland with Setanta TV, [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]] and its successor channel, [[Virgin Media One]]. .
Williams has worked on television. Working for the ABC in Australia on match analysis, then in Ireland with Setanta TV, [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]] and its successor channel, [[Virgin Media One]].
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punditarena.com/rugby/smcmahon/matt-williams-munster-will-be-way-too-strong-for-gloucester/ |title = Matt Williams: Munster Will Be Way Too Strong For Gloucester - Pundit Arena|date = 11 January 2019}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punditarena.com/rugby/smcmahon/matt-williams-munster-will-be-way-too-strong-for-gloucester/ |title = Matt Williams: Munster Will Be Way Too Strong For Gloucester - Pundit Arena|date = 11 January 2019}}</ref>

== Coaching statistics: Scotland (2003–05) ==

=== International matches as head coach ===
Matt Williams achieved an 18% win rate, which placed him among the worst performers as head coach of Scotland and among all Tier 1 rugby nations.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"
!colspan=7|Matches (2003–2005)
|-
!Matches
!Date
!Opposition
!Venue
!Score<br /><small>(Sco.–Opponent)</small>
!Competition
!Captain
|-
! colspan=7|2004
|-
|align=center|'''1'''
|14 February
|{{nrut|Wales}}
|[[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|10–23
|align=center rowspan=5|[[2004 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]
|align=center rowspan=5|[[Chris Paterson]]
|-
|align=center|'''2'''
|21 February
|{{nrut|England}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|13–35
|-
|align=center|'''3'''
|6 March
|{{nrut|Italy}}
|[[Stadio Flaminio]], [[Rome]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|14–20
|-
|align=center|'''4'''
|21 March
|{{nrut|France}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|0–31
|-
|align=center|'''5'''
|27 March
|{{nrut|Ireland}}
|[[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|16–37
|-
|align=center|'''6'''
|4 June
|{{nrut|Samoa}}
|[[Westpac Stadium]], [[Wellington]]
|align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC|38–3
|align=center rowspan=3|[[2004 June rugby union tests|Summer Tour]]
|align=center|[[Chris Paterson]]
|-
|align=center|'''7'''
|13 June
|rowspan=3|{{nrut|Australia}}
|[[Docklands Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|15–35
|align=center rowspan=2|[[Scott Murray (rugby union)|Scott Murray]]
|-
|align=center|'''8'''
|19 June
|[[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|13–34
|-
|align=center|'''9'''
|6 November
|[[Murrayfieldy Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|14–31
|align=center rowspan=4|[[2004 end-of-year rugby union internationals|Autumn Internationals]]
|align=center rowspan=4|[[Gordon Bulloch]]
|-
|align=center|'''10'''
|13 November
|{{nrut|Japan}}
|[[McDiarmid Park]], [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
|align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC|100–8
|-
|align=center|'''11'''
|20 November
|{{nrut|Australia}}
|[[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|17–31
|-
|align=center|'''12'''
|27 November
|{{nrut|South Africa}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|10–45
|-
! colspan=7|2005
|-
|align=center|'''13'''
|5 February
|{{nrut|France}}
|[[Stade de France]], [[Paris]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|9–16
|align=center rowspan=5|[[2005 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]
|align=center rowspan=5|[[Gordon Bulloch]]
|-
|align=center|'''14'''
|12 February
|{{nrut|Ireland}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|13–40
|-
|align=center|'''15'''
|26 February
|{{nrut|Italy}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#CCFFCC|18–10
|-
|align=center|'''16'''
|13 March
|{{nrut|Wales}}
|[[Murrayfield Stadium]], [[Edinburgh]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|22–46
|-
|align=center|'''17'''
|19 March
|{{nrut|England}}
|[[Twickenham Stadium]], [[London]]
|align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC|22–43
|}

=== Record by country ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Opponent
! Played
! Won
! Drew
! Lost
! Win %
! For
! Against
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|AUS}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|4|0|0|4}}
| 59
| 131
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ENG}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 35
| 78
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|FRA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 9
| 47
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|IRE}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 29
| 77
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|ITA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|1|0|1}}
| 32
| 30
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|JPN}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 100
| 8
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|SAM}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}
| 38
| 3
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|RSA}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|1|0|0|1}}
| 10
| 45
|- align=center
| align=left|{{ru|WAL}}
{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}
| 32
| 66
|-
! TOTAL
{{WDLtot|decimals=0|17|3|0|14}}
! 344
! 485
|}


==References==
==References==
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}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{TV3 presenters}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Matt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Matt}}
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[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Ireland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Ireland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Romania]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Romania]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in Scotland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in Wales]]
[[Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Wales]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Sydney]]

Latest revision as of 03:52, 21 November 2024

Matt Williams
Birth nameMatthew Brian Williams
Date of birth1960 (age 63–64)[citation needed]
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Rugby union career
Coaching career
Years Team
1997–1999 NSW Waratahs
2000–2003 Leinster
2003–2005 Scotland
2007–2010 Ulster
2017 Timișoara Saracens

Matt Williams (born 1960) is an Australian former rugby union coach. Since 2015 he has worked as a pundit for Virgin Media Television and has written for The Irish Times since 2011.

Playing career

[edit]

Williams played from 1978 to 1992 with both Eastwood and Western Suburbs Rugby Clubs in Sydney and with Swansea RFC in Wales.

Coaching

[edit]

Williams started by coaching Western Suburbs U20s in Sydney, Australia in 1992. A year later he became head coach of his former club Eastwood in Sydney in 1993.[citation needed] Later that year he was appointed fitness and skills coach for the Emerging Wallabies' tour of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

In 1995 his coaching stints included New South Wales A, New South Wales Sevens, and as assistant coach for an Australian XV against England A. He was also a coaching assistant at the Wallaby World Cup camps.

In addition to national coaching duties, Williams also coached the Balmain Tigers 7s team in the Coca-Cola World Sevens in Sydney, winning the Cup.

In 1996 he became manager and assistant coach for the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby campaign. For the next three years he was Head Coach for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby.

Ireland

[edit]

In the autumn of 1999, he acted as backs coach in Leinster Rugby's European Cup campaign, becoming the province's head coach in 2000. Williams also undertook the role of defensive coach for the Irish national team in 2001. Leinster won the inaugural Celtic League Final and were knocked out at the semi-final of the European Cup.

Williams also was appointed Head Coach of Ireland "A" (not to be confused with the actual Irish team) in 2002-03 and won the Six Nations title with the "A" team.

Scotland

[edit]

In 2003, he was appointed as the head coach of Scotland but was axed in 2005 having only secured 3 wins out of 17 test matches.[1]

After his Scotland tenure, Williams returned to Australia and became head coach of West Harbour rugby club in Sydney from 2006 to 2007 before returning to Ireland to take over Ulster team mid-season, after they had sacked former coach Mark McCall.

Williams resigned from the post of Head Coach at Ulster Rugby in May 2009.[2]

In 2011 he was head coach of Club Narbonne Méditerranée in France. He resigned in July 2012.

He then returned to Australia and in 2013 he set up the rugby programme at the Knox Sports Academy in Sydney.

Williams had a brief three-month stint, advising the Timișoara Saracensclub in Romania[citation needed], and he left in November 2017.

Media

[edit]

Since 2007 Williams has worked in the Irish media. He has been the International Rugby guest writer with The Irish Times for international matches. He has been a guest commentator on Today FM's Matt Coopers, Last Word, Newstalk's Off the Ball, and the Eamon Dunphy podcasts.

Williams has worked on television. Working for the ABC in Australia on match analysis, then in Ireland with Setanta TV, TV3 and its successor channel, Virgin Media One. [3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Williams axed by Scotland". The Guardian. 25 April 2005.
  2. ^ Williams resigns as Ulster coach BBC.co.uk, 20 May 2009
  3. ^ "Matt Williams: Munster Will Be Way Too Strong For Gloucester - Pundit Arena". 11 January 2019.
Preceded by Scotland national rugby union team coach
2003–2005 		Succeeded by
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