TomosWilliams

Tomos Williams’ selection for his first British & Irish Lions Tour follows eye-catching performances at scrum-half for Gloucester Rugby and Wales in recent seasons.

One of the standout players in the Gallagher Premiership in the 2024/25 season, Williams is an innovative No.9 always looking for ways to make something happen.

He has gained headlines for his inventive array of passes, most notably the ‘no look’ pass which set up a try for the Cherry & Whites against Bristol Bears in March – a nod to a youth spent on the basketball court, a sport in which he represented Wales up to Under-16 level, as well as the rugby field.

Hailed by his club’s attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown as a ‘world-class player’ who is ‘in the prime of his career’, Williams is the latest in an esteemed line of Welsh scrum-halves to represent the Lions – following in the footsteps of the likes of Rob Howley, Mike Phillips and arguably the greatest of them all, Gareth Edwards.

Williams began his career at Treorchy RFC, where he was coached by his father, Steve.

From there he moved to Cardiff, where he made his debut against Munster in 2013 before earning a first start in 2016 in a 23-13 victory over Ulster.

Having represented Wales at Under-18 and Under-20 level, senior international recognition soon followed in 2017 when he was named in the Wales squad for the first time.

While he did not make it off the bench in their test against Samoa, he got his cap a year later in a summer tour to the USA, scoring a decisive try to beat South Africa 22-20 in Washington DC.

Since then, he has gone from strength-to-strength representing Wales in World Cups in 2019 and 2023, scoring in their most recent quarter-final appearance against Argentina.

He was an ever-present in Wales’ most recent Six Nations campaign and the player who cites Leigh Halfpenny’s kicking and George North’s iconic tackle on Israel Folau in 2013 as his favourite Lions memories will now take his talents into another iconic red jersey.