{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{about||the South African cricketer|Reece Williams (cricketer)|those of a similar name|Rhys Williams (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Reece Williams |fullname = |image = Reece Williams Sharks.jpg |imagesize = |position = {{rlp|SR}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|21|df=yes}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|187|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|102|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = Cronulla Sharks |year1start = 2003 |year1end = 09 |appearances1 = 98 |tries1 = 9 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 36 |teamA = NSW City |yearAstart = 2007 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |updated = 17:28, 8 September 2008 (UTC) |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/reece-williams/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> }}
'''Reece Williams''' (born 21 September 1985 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and referee. As a player, he played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League competition where he played Second Row, Prop Forward and Centre. Williams retired in 2010 following a series of injuries.
==Early career== Williams played football for the Yarrawarrah Tigers. He went to school at Endeavour Sports High School in Caringbah NSW.
==Playing career== Williams made his first grade debut in Round 23, Cronulla v St George Illawarra at Toyota Park, 16 August 2003. Williams was rewarded for good form in 2007 when he was selected for City Origin. Williams missed the majority of the 2008 season through a knee injury requiring a knee reconstruction.
During 2009 and 2010, Williams suffered a series of head knocks that left him hospitalised twice in an eight-month period (August 2009 and March 2010). In 2009, Williams had a blood clot on his brain requiring surgery.<ref>{{cite web|last=Webster|first=Andrew|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-lock-reece-williams-has-undergone-emergency-surgery-for-a-blood-clot-on-the-brain/story-e6frfgbo-1225758400142|title=Sharks lock Reece Williams has a blood clot on the brain|work=Herald Sun|date=6 August 2009|accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref> In March 2010, after being hospitalised for concussion, a further blood clot was found on the player's spine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/58023/Default.aspx|title=Media Release: Reece Williams undergoes urgent surgery|publisher=NRL.com|date=25 March 2010|accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Forrest|first=Brad|url=http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/uncertain-future-for-reece-williams/1782842.aspx|title=Uncertain future for Reece Williams - Local News - Sport - Rugby League - St George & Sutherland Shire Leader|publisher=Theleader.com.au|date=23 March 2010|accessdate=2010-12-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324114235/http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/uncertain-future-for-reece-williams/1782842.aspx|archivedate=24 March 2012}}</ref> Despite his determination to return to playing football, at the end of 2010, Williams accepted medical advice and announced his retirement.<ref name="sharks1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sharks.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=31785|title=Sharks Reece Williams Announces Retirement - Cronulla Sharks|publisher=Sharks.com.au|accessdate=2010-12-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308182828/http://www.sharks.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=31785|archivedate=8 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharksforever.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17677&page=31|title=Reece Williams - Page 31 - Sharks Forever Forums|publisher=Sharksforever.com|accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref>
Williams was a one-club player from the local juniors ranks, racking up 98 NRL games for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks since his 2003 debut.
While playing professional football, Williams studied part-time and completed a Certificate III and IV in Personal Training as well as a Management certificate. On retirement, he started a Personal Training business specialising in weight loss and fitness, and has been used as an example for young players to look for a career beyond their playing days.<ref name="sharks1"/>
==Refereeing career== Williams became a member of the NRL Referees full-time squad in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/About/ReferenceCentre/Referees/tabid/10441/Default.aspx|title=NRL Referees|publisher=nrl.com|accessdate=2013-08-10}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == *[http://www.sharks.com.au/default.aspx?s=player-profile-display&id=210&player=reece-williams&team=Sharks Cronulla Sharks profile] *[http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/4/playerid/415/seasonid/5/default.aspx NRL profile] *[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/18/1063625160538.html?from=storyrhs Hardy schools his charges for final examination]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Reece}} Category:1985 births Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of New Zealand descent Category:Australian people of Italian descent Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent Category:Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players Category:New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league five-eighths Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league referees Category:National Rugby League referees Category:People educated at Endeavour Sports High School Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen