France v Wales referee Paul Williams in tears during TV interview over guilt
Wales kick off their 2025 Six Nations campaign tonight and face a daunting first test as they take on France under the Friday night lights in Paris.
As is well documented by now, Warren Gatland's side head into the tournament off the back of a dismal 2024, which saw them lose every Test match they faced and, in doing so, stretch their losing run to 12 successive games at that level.
As he did at the last Rugby World Cup, Gatland has warned critics to write his side off at their peril, but he will be fully aware of the scale of the challenge that awaits them at the Stade de France. While Fabien Galthie has suffered a string of injury blows, his French side still boasts some of the best players in the game, not to mention the world-class half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
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With Wales looking to defy the odds and France hoping to kick off their title hunt in style, it is set to be a thrilling curtain-raiser and one that could end up getting a bit fiery. Looking to keep a lid on proceedings is Kiwi referee Paul Williams - a name that not only will now be familiar to most Test rugby fans, but also one that has been in the headlines recently.
Here's everything you need to know about tonight's referee.
Who is Paul Williams?
Williams started his refereeing career in 2011 while still playing at scrum-half at club level. Three years later, he was appointed to the New Zealand High Performance referee squad and quickly rose up through the domestic ranks before becoming a full-time referee on the Super Rugby panel in 2016.
That same year, he took charge of the World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland before refereeing his first international Test match - a clash between Italy and Scotland in Singapore - the following year.
He was then selected to officiate at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and the year after became the first New Zealand-born referee to take charge of an All Blacks' Test when he oversaw the first game of the Bledisloe Cup series in Wellington.
Referee Paul Williams' tearful interview
Williams also featured at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and, in the wake of the tournament, gave an insight into what sacrifices were involved in making it to the top of the game as a referee. Interviewed as part of World Rugby's Whistleblowers documentary, which focused on the experiences of officials at the tournament, the New Zealander tearfully admitted that while the sport had given him "everything", he was guilty of not spending enough time with his loved ones as a result of his determination to succeed as an official.
"In 2011, I travelled to York to play rugby," he said. "I would never have met my wife had it not been for rugby. Rugby has given me everything, but I'm a very driven person. Something I've been guilty of in the past is getting so fixated on that goal that I've spent less time committed to those close around me.
"When you come to a World Cup, you only get one shot at it. You can't turn around and say 'can I do that again please?' My wife and I want to get on that plane, looking across at each other across the aisle with our three kids in between and know that we made the most out of that opportunity.
"We want to know that we made some memories that we will never ever forget," he added, tearfully. "That's what we're after, if we can do that then I'll know that it was a successful World Cup, not just for me but for my family."
O'Gara's recent anger and 'court' warning
Williams has found himself in the headlines in the lead up to France v Wales, after Irish rugby legend and La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara took aim at his officiating.
O'Gara is no stranger to hitting out at referees, copping several bans over the years as a result, and felt compelled to speak out after his side lost to Toulon in the Top 14 at the weekend. While the Irishman's team had raced into a 17-0 lead early on, they ended up on the wrong side of a 45-26 scoreline and the coach's frustration at the full-time whistle was clear to see as he warned that he will "be in court soon regarding the refereeing".
"I don’t want us to be refereed like a small team," said O'Gara after the match. “We have to respect the rules. An away team has the right to win the match. It wasn’t a Frenchman tonight, but I’m going to be in court soon regarding the refereeing.
“I need to talk about it and protect my team. He has to learn, there were croc rolls and neck holds, It’s not allowed in the rules so I’m very disappointed. In the end, we led 17-0 and we lost the match. There’s class in Toulon, but… I have to grit my teeth.
“I want to say things as they are," he added. "I sent a private message some time ago and I’ve already taken 12 weeks. That’s how it is.”
O'Gara's comments come less than three years after Williams found himself on the end of a remarkable attack from a South African news publication, which tore into his officiating of the Springboks' clash with Australia in the Rugby Championship.
The South African demanded the referee was banned from refereeing elite international matches going forward, accusing him of bringing shame on the sport.
The scathing attack cited a series of grievances from the game, including the decision to yellow card scrum-half Faf de Klerk for "striking" opposite number Nic White, with the Wallabies star theatrically collapsing to the ground clutching his face after what replays showed was the slightest of contact.
That incident, along with the accusation that Williams allowed Australia to use "spoiling tactics", led the publication to call for him to be "banished to the bush leagues" for the rest of his career after.
The article added: "Paul Williams bought into play-acting from Australia scrum-half Nic White, whose actions have no place in the sport at all. Williams and White bring the game into disrepute.
"Williams has brought shame onto the game of rugby with one of the worst officiating displays in modern rugby. Williams’ diabolical decision-making robbed the Springboks of momentum and points and changed the nature of the game. This referee has no place taking charge of big games and should be banished to the bush leagues for the rest of his days."
France v Wales referees
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee 1: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referee 2: Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
