Williams confident of filling Webb role for Wales

CRACKERJACK Bristol scrum-half Rhodri Williams believes Rhys Webb’s defection to Toulon will offer him a route back into a Wales jersey – after he completes unfinished business by helping the Ashton Gate outfit reclaim their place in the Premiership.

Williams has already agreed a move to the Dragons next summer, where he will join Gloucester back row Ross Moriarty and potentially Northampton’s George North, if the star wing can be persuaded to hop aboard the Rodney Parade bandwagon.

Capped three times by Wales in 2013 and 2014, Williams, 24, told The

Rugby Paper: “Signing Ross is a big statement from the Dragons and shows the ambition they’ve got, so it was nice to get my signing done early because they’re heading in a positive direction.

“My long-term goal is getting back into the Welsh set-up and obviously Rhys moving on may come into that, but I know I’ve got to get my regional game up to scratch first.

“If I can perform weekin, week-out for the Dragons and do well in the PRO 14, that will hopefully take care of itself. But before that I want to make sure Bristol succeed and play a big part in winning promotion, because I owe our supporters that.”

Williams tops the Championship try-scoring charts with ten five-pointers – remarkable for a No.9 – but is quick to praise teammates for his success.

He explained: “I haven’t done that much for those tries, I’ve just been on the end of support lines and the good work on the outside. In fact, there’s a bit of a joke about how many defenders I’ve actually beaten, which hasn’t been all that many.

“But you’ve got to be there to score them and I’m really enjoying the way Pat Lam and the coaches have got us playing. We all know what we’ve got to do, are accountable for our roles and my move to the Dragons hasn’t affected me at all.”

Williams added: “The big ambition for Bristol is Champions Cup rugby and I’m determined to ensure the first part of that journey is completed.”