Warriors on the trail of Wales exile

Owen Williams.

WALES international Owen Williams is reportedly on the radar of Gallagher Premiership outfit Worcester Warriors.

The three-cap No. 10 is currently playing for NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Japan’s Top League.

But, according to The Rugby Paper, Warriors see him as a potential replacement for Duncan Weir, who is joining Glasgow for next season.

Former Gloucester man Williams was linked to both the Ospreys and the Dragons ahead of his Kingsholm contract expiring last season.

But he eventually opted to sample life in the Far East, teaming up with his old Cherry and Whites coach Johan Ackermann.

The man from the Swansea Valley cut his teeth at senior level with the Scarlets before heading for Leicester Tigers.

He hasn’t played for Wales since 2017 but Wayne Pivac spoke to him before he committed to the Hurricanes and Williams revealed last month he still had the desire to pull on the red jersey.

“Never say never,” he said. “I definitely still would like to play for Wales. It’s about if I get offered a contract back home.

“It’s down to that as I can’t play anywhere else to play for Wales.

“I had a good chat with Wayne before I signed out here. We had a few conversations on the phone.”

All of Williams’s Wales caps have come in the centre, with the 29-year-old able play at 12 as well as fly-half.

He was widely praised for his efforts against both Australia and New Zealand in the 2017 autumn Tests, with Williams offering something different. Against the Kiwis he sent out 27 passes and made 15 ball carries, looking for space instead of contact.

But playing in England and injuries cost him, though he was named on the bench for Wales against Ireland in Dublin last year.

He didn’t actually feature, though, with an injury picked up during the warm-up ruling him out.

Worcester are coached by former Wales international Jonathan Thomas.