The other Williams boy... why Shane’s Neath wing partner Delme is too busy to cry over how his life could have been
DON’T cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
The certainty is that quote didn’t come from the pen of a man struck down by injury at the age of 24 and forced to quit his chosen sport without playing another competitive game, in the process torpedoing ambitions nurtured since childhood. But, still, it’s a decent line. Delme Williams could be forgiven for taking issue with it, though.
But, to his immense credit, he doesn’t seem to.
Remember Williams? Neath wing, on the scene when Shane Williams broke through. Together the pair were devastating for the Welsh All Blacks, the club’s own Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. If Shane didn’t get you
with his sidestep, Delme would do the job with his relentlessly direct running.
But here’s the thing: Shane went on to become Wales’ record try scorer, world player of the year, Eurovision Song Contest winner and Wimbledon champion.
Though some of those memories may not be totally on the money, his long-time pal had to retire prematurely because of a shattered kneecap.
He had barely started and it was time to finish. Life can be beyond cruel.
However, like the old Murphy’s Irish stout advert, he’s not bitter.
‘LIFE HAPPENS’ FOR a while he did wonder what might have been as he watched many of his former Neath, Wales A and Wales development XV team-mates go on to achieve top honours. But, eventually, Williams reconciled himself with the cards life had dealt him.
“You get over it, but it takes some doing. It’s a big change, a lifestyle change. You have ambitions and can see yourself somewhere. Then it’s taken away,” he says.
“The first three years were difficult. Maybe there was a thought at the back of the mind asking: ‘Can I go back?’
“A lot of the boys I played alongside went on to play for Wales, some of them for the Lions, and most had long careers.
“I wouldn’t say I never thought to myself that it would be nice if I were there with them.
“I was only 24 when I had my last proper game of rugby. I felt I had more that I wanted to achieve in the game. But it wasn’t to be.
“Two or three years later, you are separated from rugby anyway and just let those thoughts go.
“I could not have been happier to see the likes of Shane and the other boys I played alongside doing well.
“You have a career outside the game and a family and you have other priorities.
“Life happens. You just move on.” BRIGHT YOUNG THING
WILLIAMS had averaged close on a try every second game over 75 appearances for Neath over four seasons.
He may have left the frills to Shane but rival wings found him a handful, too. He was 5ft 11 and 14st 7lb and a good enough powerlifter to hold a Welsh record.
The knee injury he suffered in 2000, while with the Welsh All Blacks, couldn’t be shaken off, however.
A move to Llanelli followed the following year but he didn’t play a game for them after joining, with his sole outing in a scarlet jersey coming as a teenager in a friendly against New Dock Stars in 1995.
How good was the Brynamman product in pomp? “When Shane arrived at The Gnoll, Delme was already either in the Wales A team or there or thereabouts,” recalls Neath RFC historian Mike Price.
“He was the bright young thing of Welsh rugby, scoring tries for fun.
“Suddenly this little guy from Amman United popped up on the other flank and he started running in touchdowns as well.
“Delme was scoring try after try, then Shane started scoring just as many on the other flank.
“If it had not been for injury, who knows? National selection is often about luck and being in the right place at the right time, but Delme started picking up injuries.
“Had he stayed fit, it could have been a race between him and Shane for the shirt.”
The two wings remain good mates.
“Shane’s a great guy and it was brilliant to see the playing career he had,” says Delme.
“When I’m asked who’s the best player I played alongside I always say it was Shane.
“I played with some top players, too, including Brett Sinkinson at Neath and at Cardiff in the couple of years I had there early in my career it was ridiculous -- the Wales team, basically. Jonathan Davies was there, Rob Howley, Emyr Lewis, Nigel Walker and countless others. “But I always go back to Shane. “Maybe I’m biased because he’s a mate and he played in my position, but what he did, at a time when rugby was changing quickly with everyone bulking up, was fantastic.” CULTURE SHOCK
WILLIAMS spent a couple of years at Cardiff after joining them as a teenager. Heading across to Neath was a culture shock.
“Cardiff were a club with wealthy backers and a lot of money. It was almost opulent there. Everything was