When did you take up rugby?
When I was about six, at the Redingensians club. I stayed with them until I was 16. I have always played centre.

When did you join London Irish?
I joined what is called their Silver group when I was 14, then went up to the Gold group at 16 and up to the senior academy at 17.

Who has mentored you?
At Forest School I had a county coach as my teacher, Richard Pryor. In the London Irish AASE (Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence) scheme, it was Giselle Mather, and then Paul Hodgson, Declan Danaher and Nick Kennedy in the senior academy.

When did you join Irish’s first-team squad?
I did a couple of training sessions last year and the year before but since July 2015 I have been with them week in, week out. AASE really helped prepare me for full-time rugby.

And you scored two tries on your Premiership debut v Wasps…
I’m immensely chuffed with that. It was a shame not to get the result though.

You played for Wales U16 then England U17 and U18. What did your Welsh dad Gareth think when you switched?
He was a bit gutted, to be frank! He says if I’m playing for England against Wales he hopes
I score five tries but Wales still win!

What are your aims now?
It has all come very quickly. My goals for this season were to play well for my loan club, Henley, but I haven’t played for them at all! You have to pinch yourself sometimes. I’m trying to be more physical and aggressive, but being smart with it too. The transition to adult rugby means the physicality is a lot greater.

RW verdict: Tipped for success while still at school, Williams has been catapulted into the London Irish team and is thriving. The 6ft 3in, 16st centre’s next target is playing for England U20.

First published in the February 2016 edition of Rugby World magazine.