Paul Williams (rugby union referee) explained

Birth Name:Paul Williams
Birth Date:11 April 1985
Birth Place:Waverley, Taranaki, New Zealand
School:Francis Douglas Memorial College
Refereeyears1:2016–pres.
Refereeyears2:2016
Refereeyears3:2017–pres.
Refereecomps1:Super Rugby
Refereecomps2:World Rugby Under 20 Championship
Refereecomps3:Test matches
Refereeapps1:19
Refereeapps2:4
Refereeapps3:5
Ru Refereeupdate:18 December 2018

Paul Williams (born 11 April 1985) is a professional rugby union referee from New Zealand who currently referees in the Super Rugby competition and in international test matches.[1]

Williams started refereeing in 2011 while still playing at halfback at club level and was appointed to the New Zealand High Performance referee squad in 2014. He quickly rose up the domestic ranks of refereeing, ultimately becoming a full-time referee on the Super Rugby panel in 2016, the first ever from Taranaki.[2]

Williams refereed the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland.[3]

In June 2017, Williams took charge of his first international test match, between Italy and Scotland in Singapore.[4]

In 2018, Williams refereed eight Super Rugby matches as well as three further Tier 1 tests.

Williams was selected to referee at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams joins professional rugby refereeing ranks . Stuff . 18 December 2018 . en.
  2. Web site: Paul Williams . SANZAR . 18 December 2018.
  3. Web site: Hurndell . Shane . Rugby: First-class ref enters elite category . NZ Herald . 18 December 2018 . en-NZ . 1 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Paul Williams . All Blacks . 18 December 2018 . en.