Friday night saw Mersea Island RFC vets vs Colchester vets at the Glebe under lights. In what was a spirited performance from both teams in front of a 300 strong crowd, there was a great father and sons moment for a former player, Jon Williams.

Jon - who drove from Wales to play with both his sons for Mersea Island - was a proud man at full time. Tom got to play the second half at 10 outside his dad at scrum half, where as Harri had a 5 minute cameo at the end of the match.

Tom and Harri, both products of St. Joe's College in Ipswich, share a remarkable rugby journey that began on the windswept sidelines of Mersea Island RFC. It was there, learning from the roar of the crowd and the camaraderie of the local club, that they truly donned their rugby skills. Their mini and youth rugby years at Colchester RFC further honed their talents, forged under the watchful eye of Mersea's passionate rugby spirit, and most importantly, under the guidance of their father, Jon Williams.

Jon Williams, a Welsh legend himself with over 2,500 points to his name, was a mainstay at Mersea RFC. His weekends were spent gracing the pitch with his skills and his evenings were dedicated to nurturing the love for the game in his sons. Tom and Harri learned the fundamentals of rugby not just from coaches and teammates, but also from watching their father weave magic on the field. They absorbed his passion, his dedication, and his signature sidestep move (a move that would later become a nightmare for opposing defenders).

Both brothers progressed through the prestigious Northampton Saints academy, representing the Welsh Exiles and Welsh Academicals along the way. Tom's path led him to represent Wales at the under-18 level, before excelling with Loughborough University's 1st team. Currently, he finds himself competing on the world stage with Oxfam 7s.

Harri, on the other hand, secured a professional contract with the Scarlets, a Welsh regional powerhouse. He solidified his place on the international scene, earning 14 caps for Wales U20s across three seasons and participating in the Junior World Cup in South Africa. Harri also thrived in the BUCS Premiership league with Swansea University, even claiming a Varsity victory. Even during these milestones, the lessons learned and skills honed on the sidelines of Mersea, with their father by their side, never strayed far.

His talent didn't go unnoticed. Harri earned a coveted spot on the Team GB 7s roster for the 2023 World Series in France. In a recent exciting turn of events, he's secured a move to Ampthill RFC in the English Championship. But Harri's ambition doesn't stop there. This summer, he'll be heading to Australia to join the Canberra Vikings, a feeder club to the Brumbies Super Rugby franchise.