WillGriff John explained

WillGriff John
Birth Name:WillGriff John
Birth Date:4 December 1992
Birth Place:Plymouth, England
Height:1.87m (06.14feet)
Weight:127kg (280lb)[1]
Ru Currentposition:Tighthead Prop
Ru Currentteam:Racing 92
Ru Position:Prop
Youthyears1:2009-2010
Youthclubs1:Cardiff Blues
Years1:2010
Years2:2010–2011
Years3:2011–2013
Years4:2013–2014
Years5:2014–2017
Years6:2017–2021
Years7:2021–2023
Years8:2023
Clubs1:Cardiff Blues
Clubs2:Pontypridd (loan)
Clubs3:Cardiff Blues
Clubs4:Northland
Clubs5:Doncaster Knights
Clubs6:Sale Sharks
Clubs7:Scarlets
Clubs8:Racing 92
Apps1:1
Apps3:18
Apps4:18
Apps5:57
Apps6:92
Apps7:18
Points1:0
Points3:0
Points4:5
Points5:20
Points6:0
Points7:0
Repyears1:2009
Repyears2:2010–2012
Repyears3:2021
Repteam1:Wales U18
Repteam2:Wales U20
Repteam3:Wales
Repcaps2:14
Repcaps3:2
Reppoints2:5
Reppoints3:0

WillGriff John (born 4 December 1992) is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14. A tighthead prop, John has previously played for Cardiff Blues, Northland, Doncaster Knights, Sale Sharks, and the Scarlets. He won two caps for Wales in 2021.

Club career

Born in Plymouth, England, and raised in the Rhondda in Wales, John began his playing career at Pontypridd and represented Wales at youth levels. He also played for Cardiff Blues and was part of the squad that won the European Challenge Cup in 2010. In 2013 he moved to New Zealand and played for two seasons in the ITM Cup with the province of Northland.

John then returned to the UK and joined Doncaster in the Championship in 2014.[2] On 3 May 2017 John was signed by Sale Sharks in the English Premiership.[3]

John departed Sale to join Scarlets for the 2021–22 season.[4]

At the end of the 2022–23 season, John was released by the Scarlets, and subsequently joined Racing 92 on a short term contract.[5]

International career

On 15 January 2020, John was named in the Wales squad for the 2020 Six Nations Championship.[6] He was named in the starting side against Scotland, but the match was cancelled prior to kickoff due to COVID-19.[7]

On 6 November 2021, John made his Wales debut coming off the bench against South Africa.[8] John made his first start against Fiji later in the month.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aviva Premiership Rugby - Sale Sharks - Willgriff John profile . web page . Premier Rugby . 5 October 2017.
  2. Web site: Prop WillGriff John joins Knights ranks.
  3. News: WillGriff John: Sale Sharks sign Doncaster Knights prop . BBC . 3 May 2017 . 25 October 2020 .
  4. News: WillGriff John: Scarlets sign prop from Sale. BBC Sport. 2 February 2021.
  5. News: 22 July 2023 . Racing 92 sign Wales prop John as World Cup cover . en-GB . BBC Sport . 22 July 2023.
  6. News: Six Nations: Wales call up teenager Rees-Zammit and Saracens' Tompkins . BBC Sport. 15 January 2020 . 15 January 2020.
  7. Web site: WillGriff John: Prop dreams of first Wales cap after 2020 false start. 10 February 2021. 23 October 2022. BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: Wales v South Africa team announcement as Pivac makes six changes to face Springboks. 4 November 2021. 23 October 2022. Wales Online.
  9. Web site: Wales 38-23 Fiji: Laboured hosts hit back to beat 14-man visitors. 14 November 2021. 23 October 2022. BBC Sport.