| Name: | Rhys Williams |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Date of Birth: | 14/07/1988 |
| Height: | 6' 2" (187cm) |
| Weight: | 11st 5lbs (72.0kg) |
| Previous | |
| Clubs: | Burnley (loan) |
| Position: | Defender |
RHYS WILLIAMS is a talented defender/midfielder and yet another product of the Academy.
Williams signed a two-year professional contract in 2007 after continuing his impressive development under Colin Cooper and Steve Agnew in the Reserve team.
From Western Australia, he impressed a number of clubs before signing for Boro as a scholar.
He played in the majority of pre-season games in 2008/09 and scored a stunning 25-yard strike during a 6-1 win against Sparta Rotterdam.
With Luke Young departed to Aston Villa, Williams was hoping for a breakthrough year, but suffered with a hip injury.
Williams can play any position in the back four and is also comfortable as a holding midfielder.
He was born in Perth and had been with the Academy for three years before signing professional terms. His mother originates from Bombay while his father was born in Kent.
Although he also qualified to play for India, England and Australia, Rhys chose to represent Wales at U21 level and was a regular member of that side, but elected to choose his native Australia as the country he would like to represent at full international level.
He was rewarded for progress with Boro in February 2009 with a new two-and-a-half year contract and immdeiately went on loan to Championship side Burnley.
He played 17 games for the Lancashire club and won rave reviews, playing at right-back as he helped the Clarets win promotion to the Premier League, although he was ineligible to take part in their successful play-off campaign.
Rhys made his full international debut for Australia, playing 78 minutes of a 2-1 win over Japan in a World Cup qualifying game in Melbourne on June 17 2009.
After impressing pre-season in the summer of 2009, scoring in four of the five games when playing in midfield, Williams was the preferred choice in the centre of midfield from the start of the season proper.
His performances were rewarded with a new three-and-a-half year deal in December 2009, commiting him to the club until summer 2013.
Rhys was forced to miss the 2010 World Cup with a persistent pelvic problem that led to him being given an extended period of rehab back in Australia during the first half of the 2010-11 campaign.
| Career History: | ||||
| Club | Season | Comp. | Apps (as sub) |
Goals |
| Middlesbrough | 2009 - 10 | League | 31 (1) | 2 |
| FA Cup | 1 (0) | 0 | ||
| League Cup | 1 (0) | 0 | ||
| Burnley | 2008 - 09 | League | 17 (0) | 0 |
| Middlesbrough | 2008 - 09 | League Cup | 0 (1) | 0 |
Rest Is Best For Rhys
Rhys Hoping To Make The Cut
