Sharni Williams

Sharni Maree Williams OAM (born 2 March 1988) is a female Australian rugby union player. She has played in the centre position for Australia, the Brumbies, and from 2008 to 2012 for the Canberra Royals. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Sharni Williams
Date of birth (1988-03-02) 2 March 1988
Place of birthBatlow, New South Wales
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Forward
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Brumbies
Canberra Royals.		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 – present Australia
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
Australia 7s
Medal record
Women's rugby sevens
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam competition
Rugby Sevens World Cup
Gold medal – first place2022 Cape TownTeam competition
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2022 BirminghamTeam competition
Silver medal – second place2018 Gold CoastTeam competition

Biography

Williams made her international debut when winning her first Australia cap, against New Zealand on 14 October 2008 at Viking Park in Canberra. Some days before, she collected three tries in an unofficial test match won 95-0 by the Wallaroos against with the Australian President’s XV.[7][8]

During the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup in England, Williams scored one try against Wales and two in Australia's 62-0 victory over South Africa.[9][10]

She was awarded ACT Rugby Rookie of the Year 2008 and Australian Women's Player of the Year 2010.[11][12]

Williams made the transition to rugby sevens in 2011, earning a spot in the Australian women’s sevens team where she played every leg of the Women's Sevens World Series from its inception in November 2012. Injury ruled her out of the Sao Paulo Sevens in February 2016, however she returned in time to be named in the final round of the 2015-16 season in Clermont that saw her side win the country's first-ever World Series.

Williams was co-captain of Australia's team at the 2016 Olympics, defeating New Zealand in the final to win the inaugural Olympic gold medal in the sport.[13]

On Australia Day 2017, Williams, along with her Rio team mates, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal.[14]

Williams was named in the Australia squad for the Rugby sevens at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[15] The team came second in the pool round but then lost to Fiji 14-12 in the quarterfinals.[16]

Williams won a gold medal with the Australian sevens team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[17][18][19] She was a member of the Australian team that won the 2022 Sevens Rugby World Cup held in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2022.[20] She was also selected in the Wallaroos team for the delayed 2022 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[21][22]

Personal life

Aside from her rugby union career, Williams is a qualified mechanic.[11] She is openly lesbian.[23]

Achievements and honours

References
  1. Newman, Beth (14 July 2016). "Rio Olympics: Australian Sevens teams announced". www.rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  2. "Rio Olympics: Australia's men's and women's sevens squads unveiled". foxsports.com.au. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. "Rio 2016: Olympic squads named by Australia for rugby sevens debut at Games". ABC.net.au. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. "Australia's Olympic Sevens squads announced". Rugby News.net.au. 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  5. "Australia name a mix of veterans, young guns for men's, women's Olympic sevens squads". ESPN.com.au. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  6. "Key players return as Australia name Olympic sevens squads". worldrugby.org. 2016. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  7. "Paper To Paper Wallaroos name first test team to play New Zealand". 13 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  8. "Paper to Paper Wallaroos beaten by Black Ferns in first test". 14 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  9. "Wallaroos open World Cup with bonus-point win over Wales". 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  10. "Wallaroos win through to World Cup semi-finals". 29 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  11. "2010 squad – Sharni Williams profile". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  12. Greg Growden (22 October 2010). "Eales Medal seals Pocock's rise to leader of the pack in breakaway year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  13. "Australia wins gold in women's rugby sevens". Sky News. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  14. Australian sevens captain Sharni Williams gets Australia Day honour after Olympic gold Archived 29 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
  15. Williamson, Nathan (2 July 2021). "Australia announces Olympic Sevens squads | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au". www.rugby.com.au.
  16. "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  17. Williamson, Nathan. "Sevens squad confirmed for Commonwealth Games". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  18. "Australia and South Africa win rugby sevens gold at Commonwealth Games". www.world.rugby. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  19. Williamson, Nathan (31 July 2022). "Australia claim Commonwealth Games gold". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  20. "Australia women win Sevens World Cup". Rugby World. 11 September 2022.
  21. Williamson, Nathan (7 September 2022). "Wallaroos confirm Rugby World Cup squad". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  22. Worthington, Sam (7 September 2022). "Rugby stars to play two World Cups in a month". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  23. Outsports (12 July 2021). "At least 180 out LGBTQ athletes at Tokyo Olympics, a record by far". Outsports. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  24. "Canadians dominate Langford Dream Team". Americas Rugby News. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
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