NO REGRETS AS RHODRI TARGETS A WALES RECALL
WALES scrum-half hopeful Rhodri Williams says he couldn’t have lived with the regret of not trying to play for his country again.
It’s four years since the young man from Swansea won the last of his three caps and for the last couple of seasons he’s been in exile in Bristol.
But now he has headed home to join the Dragons, putting his Wales ambitions above the opportunity to play in the English Premiership.
Williams admits the new 60-cap selection rule and No.9 rival Rhys Webb being ruled ineligible played a significant part in his decision making.
But, above all, he didn’t want to be sitting down in 20 years’ time and thinking what might have been.
He knew if he signed a new deal with Bristol he couldn’t be picked by Wales under the Welsh Rugby Union selection policy and that was a clincher in heading for Rodney Parade.
“My ambition, the same as everyone in Wales, is to play for Wales and, obviously that wasn’t possible being over the bridge,” he said.
“I hope the selectors will be pleased I have come back and, if I start playing well, hopefully they will be even more pleased.
“I am ambitious and I want to push on for a Welsh spot.”
Asked whether the 60-cap rule had played a key part in his decision, he replied: “Oh yes, 100 per cent.
“It’s straight black and white. You stay there, you can’t get picked. It doesn’t matter how well you are playing.
“There’s definite clarity in that situation.
“I think it’s very beneficial for bringing players back. It sort of made my mind up for me.
“It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, but I looked at it as in 10-20 years’ time I would never want to regret the decision of staying there (in England).
“It might not work, but at least there’s no regret that I haven’t tried it. Every proud young Welsh player wants to play for Wales.
“I wasn’t happy just being on three caps. I want more. I had to give it a go.
“Like I say, I don’t want to regret not giving it a go.
“It could be a few years down the line that I don’t get another cap and it hasn’t worked, but at least I’ve given it a go and been ambitious and tried it.”
Even with Webb out of the equation, Williams still knows he has his work cut out to secure a Wales squad spot, with Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams and Aled Davies the trio in possession at the moment.
“It’s very tough. They all had good summer tours and then you’ve got someone like Lloyd Williams who’s not far off it,” he said.
“There’s plenty of high-standard scrum-halves in Wales.
“But I’ve got to concentrate on the Dragons first and get my spot here before I can think too far ahead.
“It’s World Cup year, but if I’m not playing for the Dragons I will be watching from the stands. So, I have
got to put the work in to try and get my things sorted here first.
“The ambition is there, but I’ve got to become first-choice here before pushing for anything higher.”
Williams confirmed his international credentials back in May when he lined up for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham and played his part in a memorable 63-45 win.
“It was very good. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to play for them and I thoroughly enjoyed the week,” he said.
“It’s something I will remember for ever.
“It was enjoyable rugby and the result was just top drawer.”
The son of former Swansea scrumhalf Alan Williams, Rhodri started his career with Llandovery, progressing to the Scarlets and making his Wales debut as a replacement against Tonga in November 2013.
Then, in 2016, he opted to head for pastures new at Bristol, where he was to prove a first-team regular, helping the club to promotion from the Championship last season.
“I had dropped down the pecking order at the Scarlets and I wanted to go and show what I could do,” he said.
“It was just about getting gametime. If you aren’t getting it, you can’t improve.
“It was a new experience playing in a different country and I think it’s been very beneficial for me. “I thoroughly enjoyed it at Bristol. “I would like to say I am bit wiser now and have a better understanding of the game a few years on.
“I’ve got more experience of playing, I’m more mature and I’m just generally in a better place.”
He will have some familiar faces alongside him at the Dragons, with Jordan Williams and Ryan Bevington having also made the move from Bristol, while Gavin Henson is another ex-teammate.
“I played with Gavin at Bristol and obviously he is a big icon,” said the 25-year-old.
“You can just sit with him for half an hour and you’d learn something. He’s very passionate about the game and has very good knowledge. He’s a good, quality player.”
As for settling in with the Dragons, Williams says: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. The boys have welcomed me well.
“I like the vision of the region moving forward both on and off the field.”