CARLSBAD — Solomon Williams was surrounded by family and friends at his Carlsbad home when he learned the Seattle Seawolves selected him second overall in the Major League Rugby College Draft.
From local club fields to a professional roster
The Carlsbad High School graduate will join a Seawolves team coming off a regular season in which it went 6-4 — the league’s second-best mark — before falling in the semifinals. Williams said the fit feels right for multiple reasons, including coaching, team success and a family connection: his brother lives in Seattle.
“To get picked in general for the draft was very cool,” Williams told The Coast News. “On top of that, being Seattle — a team that’s done very well. So to be a part of a historical team like that and know I’m going to get good coaching, I was pumped; it’s a good feeling. And then on top of that, my brother lives over there.”
Williams’ selection marks the latest chapter in a progression that began in North County youth rugby. His father, a former college rugby player, introduced him to the sport. Williams developed through Thunder Rugby, a premier youth club based in North County, before moving on to the University of California, Berkeley.
Collegiate success and national recognition
At Cal, Williams played scrumhalf and finished a collegiate career that included back-to-back national championships and multiple individual honors. He was a three-time All-American and won the Rudy Scholz Award as the country’s top men’s college rugby player during his senior season.
| Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Draft position | No. 2 overall, Major League Rugby College Draft |
| College honors | Three-time All-American; Rudy Scholz Award recipient |
| Team success | Helped Cal to back-to-back national championships |
| Youth club | Thunder Rugby (North County) |
Local development and what this means for Carlsbad
Williams credited local coaching, year-round favorable weather and strong regional competition for helping shape his game. He singled out the environment in Southern California and the role of Thunder Rugby in giving him a platform to reach college and now the professional ranks.
- Youth pathway: Williams’ route from Thunder Rugby to Cal underscores North County’s role in developing high-level rugby talent.
- Visibility: A local player taken high in the MLR draft raises the profile of Carlsbad-area programs among recruits and college scouts.
- Community pride: Local families and Thunder Rugby alumni played a visible role in Williams’ draft-day celebration at his Carlsbad home.
The Seattle Seawolves have been one of Major League Rugby’s stronger franchises. Despite a 6-4 regular-season record that ranked second in the league, Seattle’s postseason run ended in the semifinals against a California Legion team that had a better point differential. Williams joins the Seawolves with expectations for strong coaching and team structure, elements he cited as attractive about the club.
For Carlsbad, Williams’ selection provides a tangible example of how local clubs and high school programs can feed top college programs and professional opportunities. Thunder Rugby’s contribution to his development was emphasized repeatedly by Williams, who called the club instrumental in giving him a platform to play at the next level.
As Williams prepares to transition to the professional game, his decision to join Seattle offers a personal and geographic connection: family in the city and a franchise with recent competitive success. The pick also continues a national trend of West Coast players moving into a growing domestic professional rugby landscape.
Williams’ progress will be followed closely by family, former teammates and coaches in Carlsbad as he makes his debut at the professional level. His journey from local fields to the national stage is likely to inspire younger players in the area and reflect positively on the youth development pipeline that supported him.
