TRFC will be sharing previous articles that have been in the Taunton RFC Matchday programme.

In his regular column meeting the players, Richard Kitzinger meets up with local boy Charlie Williams.

You’ll probably recall several games during Titans’promotion season which ended early due to the pandemic at which a group of fans loudly chanted the name of Charlie Williams. It was high time for me to find out why the flanker-cum-lock was being singled out, so I sat down with Charlie for a chat about rugby and more besides.

The Charlie Williams fan club are quite simply his mates from Taunton St Andrews Cricket Club where he plays for the 2nd or 3rd XI in summer. His cricketing team-mates come along to Veritas Park, enjoy the pre-match carvery and – it won’t surprise you to learn – they enjoy the bar too. Ask any of the Titans players and they are enthusiastic about the vocal encouragement coming from the grandstand as it gives everyone a lift to hear the supporters getting behind their team.

Taunton born, Charlie joined the rugby club’s junior ranks whilst at Heathfield School. Besides the pandemic and three years when he was studying at Durham University, the 24 year-old has been at Taunton RFC all his career and he has no intention of playing anywhere else. “I would never play for another club,” he swears.

During his three years in academia in the North-East,Charlie played college rugby for St Aidan’s but didn’t get involved with the university squads. Upon his return to Somerset he anticipated playing for the 2nd XV but was pleased to find himself in first team contention. “Realistically, if Toots, Charlie [Wright] and Sam Prior are playing, they’re an awesome back row so I’m happy in the second row,” he says, conceding that he loves to play in the 6 shirt but that it’s good to be out on the park in any capacity. He made 20 appearances during the Titans promotion campaign of 2019/20.

For a lad who has come up through the TRFC youth section,it’s particularly special to be part of the debut season in National League One. “When we were juniors, we always wanted to play on the first team pitch –and it would happen once a season. In the Under 18s we used to train some timeswith the Titans but I never really thought it would be something I’d get to do myself.”

“It wasn’t until after Christmas when we beat Tonbridge that I think we realised we could actually get promoted.”

By day Charlie works alongside his father installing playgrounds. “Dad’s had the business for 25 years and I just fell into it after university,” he explains. They fit them for housing developers, for councils,for schools, wherever a playground is needed. Working in the open air is good for the soul but there are downsides. “About this time of year, it starts toget really cold.”

Away from work and rugby, it’s no surprise to discover that sport still grabs Charlie’s attention. The camaraderie of team sport has a big draw and he appreciates being able to go back to the cricket club in summer where “there’s less pressure at the level I play at than there is here at Titans.” He speaks fondly of sociable evenings in the pavilion when all four of the Taunton St Andrews teams come back after their games. Otherwise, golf currently has his attention and he belongs to both a local club and a golf society from the cricket club that plays on a variety of local courses. He chuckles as he reflects on his golfing shortcomings, “I don’t usually get frustrated by much, but I lose my head playing golf.” It turns out that he has an issue with a slice, blamed on his clubs being too short of course.

“I’ve gone from playing rugby fora bit of fun at college to quite a high level now. I’m really enjoying it.”

Our chat gets round to sporting ambitions. With a group of university mates, Charlie would love to head out to Melbourne for a Boxing Day Ashes Test match. He did have plans to head to New Zealand to play some rugby before Covid intervened and travel became impossible. For now, playing goals are focused very much on Titans and finishing as high up the National League One table as possible. “We beat Rams here. We’ve shown we can beat anyone.”

So, when will the Charlie Williams cheer squad be back singing for their friend? “When we played Rams, I was out with an ankle injury and I won a table for 10 guests playing ‘Heads or Tails’ before the carvery lunch,” says Charlie. “My mates haven’t taken me up on the offer of a free feed yet but they’ll be here soon enough.”

Richard Kitzinger is writing in our match day programmes as well as on the Taunton RFC website. Richard is a Will Writer and all club members are entitled to a discount on Lasting Powers of Attorney with him. Call him on 07504 991893.

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