SEATTLE- Senior scrumhalf Solomon Williams was officially awarded the Rudy Scholz Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate rugby player on Saturday night at the Washington Athletic Club during the annual awards dinner.
“I am very honored and grateful to receive the Rudy Scholz award,” Williams said. “I am humbled by this individual award and I believe it reflects my team, my university, and my community throughout my journey.”
Williams had a standout senior season for the Golden Bears, starting in 13 games, and scoring nine tries this season. Recently named to his third All-American honors, Williams is the first Cal player to receive the prestigious award. The Carlsbad, Calif. product has played in 48 total XVs matches throughout his four year Cal career, and has scored 27 tries in XVs action.
This year marks the 11th annual Collegiate Rugby Player of the Year Awards ceremony. The Scholz Award is voted on annually by members of the rugby community.
“What a wonderful ceremony for Sol and his family," head coach Jack Clark said. "The Washington Athletic Club was pure class and Solomon’s acceptance was very generous to his team and family.”
The award is named after Rudy Scholz, a standout football and rugby player at Santa Clara University. Scholz was a decorated veteran of WWI before playing scrumhalf for team USA in the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, where the USA won gold each time.
A longtime rugby player who played his last game when he was 83, Scholz interrupted a successful legal career to volunteer in his 40’s for the United States Army in World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in combat in Okinawa. Scholz returned to private life as a lawyer after his service and the Washington Athletic Club (WAC) was honored to have his youngest son, David, attend the WAC’s Awards Dinner from its first year, in 2016, until he passed in 2021.
