It would be hard to think of anyone who made a more monumental contribution to New Zealand and world rugby than Bryan Williams, whose involvement and service to the game has been virtually lifelong and has covered all aspects.

Indeed, it is hard to argue against a view expressed by merchant banker and supporter of Samoan rugby, Sir Michael Fay, who late in 1999 said that Williams was the sort of man who should be helping run the International Rugby Board.

As a player Williams, an automatic test selection for the All Blacks through the 1970s, rates as one of the greatest wings produced by New Zealand. And when he retired after a long career he devoted himself to coaching, achieving remarkable results firstly with Auckland and then with Manu Samoa.

Originally a schoolboy league player, Williams first showed his extraordinary talents as a rugby player while attending Auckland's Mt Albert Grammar School (1st XV 1965-67). That he was a player destined for major honours was clear when in his first class debut, for Auckland Colts against East Coast in 1968, he scored four tries and kicked two conversions.

Still only 18, Williams made the Auckland A side in 1969 and that season playing mainly at centre began to show the pace, power and prodigious sidestep which in 1970 catapulted him into the All Blacks for the 1970 tour of South Africa.

In South Africa, where he was used as a wing, Williams was a sensation, scoring 14 tries in his 13 appearances and in the international series he scored in each of the first and fourth test and appeared to be denied on a mistaken referee's call another in the second. He was unquestionably the personality player of the tour and adding to his appeal was the fact he was plainly of Polynesian descent, with each of his parents being part Samoans.

Until 1970, of course, players of Williams' ethnic background had been barred from touring South Africa because of firstly the colour bar and then by law because of the apartheid system. Williams thus had an important part in history as one of the first players to demonstrate on the field both the injustice and stupidity of apartheid.

The impact Williams made on the 1970 tour might best be compared with that Jonah Lomu at the 1995 World Cup. Like Lomu Williams only occasionally reached the same heights afterwards.

But in 1970 he was devastating and if not quite the same spectacular player in subsequent years he remained always an accomplished footballer and until the 1978 "Grand Slammers" tour of Britain a first choice All Black.

Usually he was on the wing and through the 1970s he, Grant Batty and Bruce Robertson gave the All Blacks one of the best three quarter lines in world rugby. Often, though, a stodgy tactical approach, especially on the 1972-73 tour of Britain and France, meant their full potential wasn't always tapped.

Still, Williams was always a much respected international and all opposing sides feared his strength of running from his well muscled physique of about 1.78m and more than 82kg.

Williams as well toured with the All Blacks in 1974 (to Australia and Fiji and then to Ireland, Wales and England), in 1976 to South Africa again, to France in 1977 and finally with the Grand Slammers in 1978. In the latter season Williams was clearly affected by a serious injury suffered the year before in France and was overlooked for the Ireland international. But he replaced an injured Brian Ford during the match and then played in the wins over England, Wales and Scotland.

In all, he played for the All Blacks 113 times and in his 38 tests scored nine tries. His 66 All Black tries in all matches was the record until beaten by John Kirwan. The possessor of a powerful boot if not great accuracy Williams also kicked two conversions, nine penalty goals and a dropped goal (against England at Twickenham on the 1972-73 tour) in test rugby. In his complete rugby career of 269 first class games Williams scored 825 points, of which 137 were tries.

Williams had an outstanding record, too, as an Auckland provincial player, appearing for his union as much as a centre as on the wing. He played 132 games for Auckland and was involved in four winning Ranfurly Shield teams: in 1971 (over Canterbury), in 1972 (over North Auckland), in 1974 (over Wellington) and in 1979 (over North Auckland).

Williams stayed on for Auckland's shield defences in 1980 but in 1981 limited himself to club rugby, helping his friend Maurice Trapp coach the Ponsonby senior side. In 1982, though, at the behest of John Hart, Williams returned at fullback for one last season with Auckland. He was in dominant form and helped Auckland win the NPC first division title that year for the first time.

From then on Williams devoted himself to coaching, mainly in partnership with Trapp. After taking Ponsonby and Auckland representative sides at colts and second XV levels they succeeded Hart with the Auckland A side in 1987. In five seasons Trapp and Williams compiled a record without peer in New Zealand provincial rugby. Between 1987 and 1991 Auckland were at the peak of a record Ranfurly Shield reign, the NPC first division title was won in four of the five seasons and there were wins over international touring teams such as Argentina and Australia.

From 1991 Williams was closely involved with Manu Samoa, starting as a technical adviser where his background as a lawyer was also invaluable in administrative and organisational levels. Frequently, too, Williams courageously argued the case for Samoa against the international heavyweights, even New Zealand, when he felt smaller nations such as Samoa were being overlooked.

From 1996 Williams was the coach of Manu Samoa and among many triumphs was a victory over the Graham Henry-coached Wales side at the 1999 World Cup.

In 2000-01 he was the assistant coach to Graham Mourie with the Hurricanes in the Super 12 and in recent years he has coached Auckland development sides and been heavily involved with the administration of the Ponsonby club.

Both his sons, Gavin and Paul, outside backs like their father, have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, Gavin as a 2000 New Zealand Colt and NPC player with Auckland and Southland and Paul before he suffered a serious broken leg with the Highlanders in the Super 12.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

Bryan George Williams

BORN

Tuesday, 3 October 1950 in Auckland

AGE

59

PHYSICAL

1.79m, 89kg

POSITION

Three-quarter

LAST SCHOOL

Mt Albert Grammar

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Ponsonby

PROVINCE

Auckland

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Wednesday, 24 June 1970
v Paul Roos' XV at Bethlehem
aged 19 years, 264 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 25 July 1970
v South Africa at Pretoria
aged 19 years, 295 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 9 December 1978
v Scotland at Edinburgh
aged 28 years, 67 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

38 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

75 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

113 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

68pts (9t, 2c, 9p, 1dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

330pts (56t, 20c, 26p, 0dg, 0m)

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

398pts (65t, 22c, 35p, 1dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

689

The All Black Games that Williams played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

1970

 24 Jun vs Paul Roos' XV at Bethlehem 43-9  

 27 Jun vs Griqualand West at Kimberley 27-3  

 8 Jul vs Eastern Transvaal at Springs 24-3  

 11 Jul vs Transvaal at Johannesburg 34-17  

 13 Jul vs Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom 21-17  

 18 Jul vs Orange Free State at Bloemfontein 30-12  

 25 Jul vs South Africa at Pretoria 6-17  

 1 Aug vs Eastern Province at Port Elizabeth 49-8  

 8 Aug vs South Africa at Cape Town 9-8  

 15 Aug vs Western Province at Cape Town 29-6  

 19 Aug vs South African Country at East London 45-8  

 29 Aug vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth 3-14  

 12 Sep vs South Africa at Johannesburg 17-20  

1971

 26 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Dunedin 3-9  

 10 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 22-12  

 14 Aug vs British & Irish Lions at Auckland 14-14  

1972

 13 May vs New Zealand Juniors at Wellington 25-9  

 16 May vs Marlborough at Blenheim 59-10  

 18 May vs Mid-Canterbury at Ashburton 52-7  

 20 May vs Southland at Invercargill 30-9  

 23 May vs Wanganui at Wanganui 39-21 (+) 

 25 May vs Counties at Pukekohe 42-8  

 27 May vs North Auckland at Whangarei 33-15  

 31 May vs Wairarapa-Bush at Masterton 38-0  

 3 Jun vs Manawatu at Palmerston North 37-9  

 19 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 29-6  

 2 Sep vs Australia at Christchurch 30-17  

 16 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 38-3  

 19 Oct vs British Columbia at Vancouver 31-3  

 21 Oct vs New York Metropolitan at New York 41-9 (+) 

 28 Oct vs Western Counties at Gloucester 39-12  

 31 Oct vs Llanelli at Llanelli 3-9 (-) 

 4 Nov vs Cardiff at Cardiff 20-4  

 11 Nov vs London Counties at London 24-3  

 15 Nov vs Leinster at Dublin 17-9  

 18 Nov vs Ulster at Belfast 19-6 (-) 

 25 Nov vs Scottish Districts at Hawick 26-6  

 2 Dec vs Wales at Cardiff 19-16  

 6 Dec vs Midland Counties (West) at Moseley 8-16  

 9 Dec vs North-Eastern Counties at Bradford 9-3  

 16 Dec vs Scotland at Edinburgh 14-9  

 20 Dec vs Southern Counties at Oxford 23-6  

 30 Dec vs East Glamorgan at Cardiff 20-9  

1973

 6 Jan vs England at London 9-0  

 10 Jan vs Newport at Newport 20-15  

 16 Jan vs Munster at Cork 3-3  

 20 Jan vs Ireland at Dublin 10-10  

 24 Jan vs Neath and Aberavon at Neath 43-3 (+) 

 27 Jan vs Barbarians at Cardiff 11-23  

 31 Jan vs South-West Selection at Tarbes 12-3  

 3 Feb vs France B at Lyon 23-8 (+) 

 7 Feb vs French Selection at Clermont-Ferrand 6-3  

 10 Feb vs France at Paris 6-13  

 15 Sep vs England at Auckland 10-16  

1974

 5 May vs Western Australia at Perth 31-3 (-) 

 18 May vs N.S.W. at Sydney 20-0  

 25 May vs Australia at Sydney 11-6  

 28 May vs Queensland at Brisbane 42-6  

 1 Jun vs Australia at Brisbane 16-16  

 3 Jun vs Queensland Country at Toowoomba 29-0  

 8 Jun vs Australia at Sydney 16-6  

 11 Jun vs Fiji at Suva 14-13  

 9 Nov vs Munster at Limerick 14-4  

 13 Nov vs Leinster at Dublin 8-3  

 16 Nov vs Ulster at Belfast 30-15  

 23 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 15-6  

 27 Nov vs Wales XV at Cardiff 12-3  

 30 Nov vs Barbarians at London 13-13  

1975

 14 Jun vs Scotland at Auckland 24-0  

1976

 5 Jun vs Ireland at Wellington 11-3  

 30 Jun vs Border Invitation XV at East London 24-0  

 3 Jul vs Eastern Province at Port Elizabeth 28-15  

 10 Jul vs South African Invitation XV at Cape Town 31-24  

 17 Jul vs Western Province at Cape Town 11-12  

 20 Jul vs South African Gazelles at Port Elizabeth 21-15  

 24 Jul vs South Africa at Durban 7-16  

 28 Jul vs Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom 42-3  

 31 Jul vs Transvaal at Johannesburg 12-10  

 10 Aug vs Orange Free State Country Invitation XV at Welkom 31-6  

 14 Aug vs South Africa at Bloemfontein 15-9  

 18 Aug vs Quagga-Barbarians at Johannesburg 32-31  

 21 Aug vs Northern Transvaal at Pretoria 27-29  

 28 Aug vs Natal at Durban 42-13  

 4 Sep vs South Africa at Cape Town 10-15  

 11 Sep vs Orange Free State at Bloemfontein 10-15  

 18 Sep vs South Africa at Johannesburg 14-15  

1977

 18 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Wellington 16-12  

 9 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 9-13  

 30 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Dunedin 19-7  

 13 Aug vs British & Irish Lions at Auckland 10-9  

 22 Oct vs Italian President's XV at Padua 17-9  

 26 Oct vs French Selection at Brive 45-3  

 29 Oct vs French Selection at Lyon 12-10  

 1 Nov vs French Selection at Perpignan 12-6  

 8 Nov vs French Selection at Bayonne 38-22  

 11 Nov vs France at Toulouse 13-18 (-) 

1978

 19 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 13-12  

 26 Aug vs Australia at Christchurch 22-6  

 9 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 16-30  

 21 Oct vs Cardiff at Cardiff 17-7  

 25 Oct vs West Wales at Swansea 23-7  

 31 Oct vs Munster at Limerick 0-12  

 4 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 10-6 (+) 

 7 Nov vs Ulster at Belfast 23-3  

 11 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 13-12  

 15 Nov vs South and South-West Counties at Bristol 20-0  

 18 Nov vs Midland Counties at Leicester 20-15  

 25 Nov vs England at London 16-6  

 2 Dec vs North of England at Birkenhead 9-6  

 5 Dec vs North and Midland of Scotland at Aberdeen 31-3  

 9 Dec vs Scotland at Edinburgh 18-9  

 13 Dec vs Bridgend at Bridgend 17-6  

 16 Dec vs Barbarians at Cardiff 18-16  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Paul Roos' XV, 24 Jun 1970

2

-

-

-

6

vs Eastern Transvaal, 8 Jul 1970

1

-

-

-

3

vs Transvaal, 11 Jul 1970

1

-

-

-

3

vs Western Transvaal, 13 Jul 1970

1

-

-

-

3

vs South Africa, 25 Jul 1970

1

-

-

-

3

vs Eastern Province, 1 Aug 1970

2

-

-

-

6

vs Western Province, 15 Aug 1970

2

-

-

-

6

vs South African Country, 19 Aug 1970

3

4

1

-

20

vs South Africa, 29 Aug 1970

-

-

1

-

3

vs South Africa, 12 Sep 1970

1

-

-

-

3

vs New Zealand Juniors, 13 May 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs Marlborough, 16 May 1972

3

4

1

-

23

vs Mid-Canterbury, 18 May 1972

3

3

2

-

24

vs Southland, 20 May 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs Counties, 25 May 1972

2

-

-

-

8

vs Wairarapa-Bush, 31 May 1972

2

-

-

-

8

vs Australia, 19 Aug 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs Australia, 2 Sep 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs Australia, 16 Sep 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs New York Metropolitan, 21 Oct 1972

-

1

1

-

5

vs Western Counties, 28 Oct 1972

3

-

-

-

12

vs London Counties, 11 Nov 1972

1

-

-

-

4

vs Leinster, 15 Nov 1972

-

-

1

-

3

vs Southern Counties, 20 Dec 1972

2

-

-

-

8

vs England, 6 Jan 1973

-

-

-

1

3

vs Newport, 10 Jan 1973

1

-

2

-

10

vs South-West Selection, 31 Jan 1973

-

1

1

-

5

vs French Selection, 7 Feb 1973

-

1

-

-

2

vs N.S.W., 18 May 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Queensland, 28 May 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Queensland Country, 3 Jun 1974

2

3

1

-

17

vs Fiji, 11 Jun 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Munster, 9 Nov 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Leinster, 13 Nov 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Ulster, 16 Nov 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Barbarians, 30 Nov 1974

1

-

-

-

4

vs Scotland, 14 Jun 1975

2

-

-

-

8

vs Border Invitation XV, 30 Jun 1976

3

-

-

-

12

vs Eastern Province, 3 Jul 1976

1

-

1

-

7

vs South African Invitation XV, 10 Jul 1976

1

1

2

-

12

vs South African Gazelles, 20 Jul 1976

1

-

1

-

7

vs South Africa, 24 Jul 1976

-

-

1

-

3

vs Western Transvaal, 28 Jul 1976

1

-

-

-

4

vs Transvaal, 31 Jul 1976

1

1

2

-

12

vs Natal, 28 Aug 1976

1

-

1

-

7

vs South Africa, 4 Sep 1976

-

-

2

-

6

vs Orange Free State, 11 Sep 1976

-

-

2

-

6

vs South Africa, 18 Sep 1976

-

-

1

-

3

vs British & Irish Lions, 18 Jun 1977

-

2

-

-

4

vs British & Irish Lions, 9 Jul 1977

-

-

3

-

9

vs French Selection, 26 Oct 1977

-

-

1

-

3

vs French Selection, 29 Oct 1977

1

-

-

-

4

vs French Selection, 8 Nov 1977

2

-

2

-

14

vs France, 11 Nov 1977

1

-

1

-

7

vs Australia, 19 Aug 1978

1

-

-

-

4

vs West Wales, 25 Oct 1978

-

-

1

-

3

vs Ulster, 7 Nov 1978

1

-

1

-

7

vs South and South-West Counties, 15 Nov 1978

1

1

2

-

12

vs Midland Counties, 18 Nov 1978

1

-

-

-

4

vs Barbarians, 16 Dec 1978

1

-

-

-

4

Totals

65

22

35

1

398

NB: includes three tries at three points

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Australia

9

7

1

1

4

-

-

-

16

British & Irish Lions

7

4

1

2

-

2

3

-

13

England

3

2

-

1

-

-

-

1

3

France

2

-

-

2

1

-

1

-

7

Ireland

4

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scotland

3

3

-

-

2

-

-

-

8

South Africa

8

2

-

6

2

-

5

-

21

Wales

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

38

23

3

12

9

2

9

1

68