Academy Player: Jordan Williams
Jordan Williams, a 17 year old from Hitchin has earned
himself a contract with the u19 academy of the London based rugby league team,
the London Broncos. The Broncos are the only team in the South who have played
in the super league.
Jordan first played rugby in the form of touch or tag rugby
whilst at Mary Exton JMI School in Hitchin. This first taste of rugby came
about thanks to Miss Brind, a teacher at the school who created training
sessions after school and occasional matches for the year 5 and 6 pupils
interested in the game. Later that year, Jordan got his first experience of
higher level rugby, by being chosen to play in the district tag rugby team for
children in those years. That would be the only rugby that Jordan played until
attending Hitchin Boys ‘school a year later. Rugby was and is arguably the most
prominent sport at the school amongst hockey, cricket, basketball and athletics
where the school prides itself upon its ability and reputation. Despite its
importance, rugby is only played from September to Christmas and for the lower
years is in the form of five one hour lessons per week. Alongside this however,
is the school team for which Jordan was not a part of until year 11. Jordan had
previously followed his older brother into the world of football where he found
his feet playing for Baldock football club. However it was in year 11 that
Jordan’s unrivalled pace and talent was first noticed by his friends and
teachers which lead onto a couple of school team appearances.
Jordan was then persuaded to join the local rugby union
team, Hitchin RFC, and in doing so quit Baldock football club. When asked why
Jordan said “I enjoy rugby more, its physicality and its more exciting”. From the first training session, it was easy
to see where he would play an integral role in any team. Finding himself in the
backline at no.13 or 14, Jordan realised he wanted to be the one scoring the
tries and this only enhanced his interest.
Jordan continued playing at the club until the arrival of a chance to
try rugby league captured his desires a season later.
The first anyone in Jordan’s year heard about the League
game was when word went around school of a local team, with an u16 section and
aspirations to be the best in the region. The North Hertfordshire Crusaders
rugby league team harboured the only opportunity for people in Hertfordshire to
play rugby league and in Jordan’s case, the foundations to his academy
contract. In the summer of 2012, the Crusaders trained every week and even
without their own home kit, started winning game after game in the u16’s with a
talented group of players. This lead to
a debut season of victorious results only. However, amongst these spectacular
performances, Jordan only featured twice and was stuck between commitment to
the Crusaders and Hitchin.
The next season saw Jordan make many more appearances and
not just for the Crusaders. From only two games the previous season, Jordan was
asked to attend the Hard Rock Café Origins team where he would play for the
“North” side made up of the best players from the surrounding areas north of
the Thames river. From origins, in the summer of 2014, Jordan went onto play
for the South East colleges, the regional rugby league team. Jordan attended training sessions at weekends
and weekdays where more of his talent was unlocked. So much so that his coach
at the colleges put him up for a four week trial at the London Broncos academy.
Unfortunately Jordan was turned down at this attempt but with guidance to “bulk
up” and the new found world of a professional atmosphere in sport, Jordan earned another trial. Just three weeks
into the second trial period, Jordan was offered a professional contract to
play for the u19 London Bronco academy.
Jordan is and has been an example to many of his school mates
and friends at both Hitchin and Crusaders, that there are opportunities to try
new sports in our area and to succeed in them. Jordan also said he felt he “fell into rugby”
and everything else followed. On the other hand, Jordan had the talent to get
to where he is now and would like to thank the coaches at Hitchin RFC and the
North Hertfordshire Crusaders for their help in developing his knowledge and
skills in both rugby union and rugby league.
by Daniel Wiggins