Rhys Williams (born 14 July 1988) is an Australian retired professional soccer player who played for the Australia national team.

As a youth player, 2004 would prove his breakthrough year with his club performances leading to selection in the Western Australian under-16 state representative squad for the 2004 National Talent Identification Championships.

At the conclusion of the event, he travelled to England where he trialed with several clubs including Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough.

[9] However, Williams suffered injury while on duty with Wales U21 after damaging lateral ligament that required a surgery to repair and was sidelined by the end of 2008.

[13] He scored 4 goals in 5 games in the 2009–10 pre-season, after which manager Gareth Southgate played him in central midfield in their opening Championship match against Sheffield United, and he went on to keep his place in the starting eleven for that season.

[19] Williams then made his first team return on 6 March 2010, where he came on as a substitute for Willo Flood in the 52nd minute, in a 1–0 loss against Cardiff City.

[22] Williams missed most of the 2010–11 Middlesbrough season, and the 2010 World Cup with a persistent pelvic problem which saw him on an extensive rehabilitation period in Australia.

[32] Due to strong performances since his return from injury, he was linked to several Premier League clubs in the lead up to the January 2012 transfer window including West Bromwich Albion[33] and Liverpool.

Unrelated to previous injuries, this time he suffered damage to his ankle ligaments which kept him on the sidelines for another four months until he made a late December 2012 return.

[43] Williams returned to the first team after serving a suspension, playing in a defensive position until tearing his achilles tendon against Wigan Athletic, which kept him out for the remainder of the season.

[48] Williams then made his first start of the season in the third round of the FA Cup against Barnsley, but suffered an injury and was substituted after playing for five minutes.

[53] After returning from a loan spell at Charlton Athletic, Williams suffered a suspected cheekbone fractured during a match against Sunderland U21 and never played for Middlesbrough again.

[65] He played only 6 A-League games for the Wanderers, as he suffered a severe ruptured hamstring tendon injury late in a 3-3 draw with Melbourne City.

[69] Following this declaration, Williams earned his first call-up for Australia at senior level as part of an extended Socceroos squad for the June 2009 World Cup qualifiers.

[70] On 17 June 2009, he made his full Australian debut in a World Cup qualifier against Japan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.