Cardiff set to make a move to sign Wales star Liam

CARDIFF Rugby are believed to be in talks to sign Scarlets and Wales full-back Liam Williams, writes Mark Orders.

The capital city club are on the lookout for a replacement for Hallam Amos, who is retiring as a player at the end of the season to pursue a medical career.

They are understood to have self-styled professional bomb defuser Williams in their sights as a possible replacement.

No deal is done yet, but if it does happen, it will complete a hat-trick of high-profile signings for Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young, who has already added his son Thomas and Taulupe Faletau to the Arms Park roster for 2022-23.

The Scarlets announced Williams’ return to the region from Saracens in December 2019, with the move due to take effect at the start of the following season.

The back-three man actually linked up with the west Walians in February 2020, but his reappearance on the pitch didn’t happen until the following October amid the Covid pandemic.

He’s reportedly on a three-year deal, but how much his contractual arrangements changed during the health emergency isn’t clear. The assumption is the Scarlets would need to consent if he wants away.

They have two other international full-backs on their books in Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny McNicholl, while Ioan Nicholas is highly rated down west, while Steff Evans, Ryan Conbeer, Tom Rogers and Tomi Lewis are among the region’s wings, with Corey Baldwin also able to play out wide.

A regional rugby source told the Echo that Cardiff were keen on the idea of luring Williams to the capital. He also has a house in the area.

The 30-year-old has made just four appearances for the Scarlets since returning to the region after his stint at Saracens, with ill-fortune bedevilling him.

The Covid crisis, injuries, a red card and appendix surgery have all contributed to his lack of minutes for the west Walians, but Williams returned to action in the recent autumn Tests and proved one of Wales’ best players.