Harry Williams

His day job may be one of the most physical in modern sport, but with a love of perfect sponges, exquisite tarts, breathtaking breads and of course Mary Berry, it is safe to say Exeter Chiefs’ Harry Williams is not your average prop forward.

At 6’4” and almost 21 stone, the long-haired tight-head certainly fits the bill to be one of the most promising front-rowers in the country.

Battling for the No.3 jersey at Sandy Park alongside internationals Greg Holmes and Tomas Francis, as well as highly-rated young guns Alfie Petch and Marcus Street, Williams has certainly come a long way in a short space of time.

Having started his senior career with two years at Loughborough Students, Williams made the step up into the Championship where he featured for Nottingham and then Jersey, the latter of which he was plucked from in the summer of 2015.

The Chiefs coaching staff could clearly see his raw potential and over time they have honed his skill-set to turn him into one of the strongest tight-heads in the Premiership.

His impressive on-field form was noted from afar by England head coach Eddie Jones, who initially called him into his squad for their summer tour to Argentina. Although Jones believed the Exeter man was “in need of a hair-cut” - he liked what he saw in the Exeter prop, handing him starts in both Test matches against the Pumas.  

Since then, Williams has been a regular feature in England squads, featuring in Autumn internationals, as well as the Six Nations Championship. His omission from Jones' squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, however, was something of a surprise.