Paul Williams, also known as ”Mad Dog” for his style of play and the fact that he got sent off 10 times in what he humbly refers to as “a very average rugby career” . Paul went to school at John Cleveland College in Hinckley, a state school with a fantastic record for producing world class rugby players and human beings like; Dean Richards, Barry Evans, Olly Smith, Sam Vesty, Sam Harrison, Vicky Macqueen, Vavae, and Manu Tuilagi.
Paul first met Dean at JCC, Paul was a scrumhalf and Dean a hooker. Paul also introduced Manu and Vavae to JCC when they moved to England from Samoa. He thought it would be a great rugby school for the lads to learn a trade. In retrospect he was right.
In the 80’s Paul had a short spell at Leicester Tigers before playing for Nuneaton RFC at 9 then 7. These where the days before leagues and professional rugby as we know it today. Nuneaton’s fixture list was extensive, playing against the likes of Pontypool, Wasps, Coventry, Saracens, Newcastle, Pontypridd, Northampton, London Irish as well as Leicester Tigers.
It was against Leicester that Paul first met Harry Roberts “H” at the bottom of a ruck, which is if you knew them both was no surprise.
In the 90’s Paul moved back to Hinckley RFC where he had originally played colts and played there for a few more years, between all the red and yellow cards. Paul finally retired in the late 90’s, only to be elected Hinckley’s elected club chairman for two years running.
At this time Deano was Director of Rugby at Leicester Tigers and he introduced Paul to Freddie Tuilagi who had just signed from St Helens Rugby League, and one of this little brothers, Alex, was looking to join a local club. Paul was keen to sign him for Hinckley but was pipped to the post by the Tigers. This however was the start of a long and very close relationship between Paul and the Tuilagi Brothers.
Never one’s to back down, Paul along with past players and Tigers like Dean Richards, Harry Roberts, John Duggan, Neil Fletcher, and many more became local fund-raisers and have since raised just under £500,000 for local charities and worthy causes. The first adventure in June 2000 was such good fun they decided to make it an annual event. Their fundraising has assisted numerous local charities and families with disabled children in and around the Leicestershire area.
After a nine-year break between Rides, Paul “Mad Dog, was sadly diagnosed with Mouth Cancer on Christmas eve 2022 year. A course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was immediately arranged by the Oncology Department at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, and after six gruelling weeks of treatment causing side effects of sores and blisters, both of which have affected his eating and speech Paul has finished his course of treatment and in true Mad Dog style, not once complained about it.
Rather than thinking about himself, his first thought was how could he give back to the dedicated team at RLI Oncology Department for the outstanding care and selfless care given to him.
And what better way to do this than to awake his fellow Gravity Fund Raisers from their nine year hibernation. As expected, it took only one call and that was it they planned their next ride! Aptly the Ride started at Paul’s local Club Hinckley RFC and ends at his “adopted” younger brothers’ sports venue Tuilagi Park.
You could not have scripted it better and we look forward to you joining our growing team of extraordinary individuals raising funds for exceptional causes.
Our band of brothers also included our sister and Rugby Legend; Vicky Macqueen. In fact we would love to see more ladies participate in Rides and join the Gravity team and help us make a difference in the lives of many.