Williams: I’ll miss the boys but I needed to get out
SCOTT Williams hopes he can get the Ospreys back on the trophy trail after turning his back on their arch rivals Scarlets.
The 27-year-old sent shock waves through Welsh rugby when he opted to join the Liberty Stadium outfit for the start of next season after 11 years in Llanelli.
Allen Clarke’s side struggled last term and missed out on qualification for the Champions Cup, but Williams hopes to bring the good times back to Swansea.
“Things weren’t great at the Ospreys last season, but it will be a new season so you never know what will happen,” Williams told The Rugby Paper.
“There were a number of reasons why I left the Scarlets. I felt like it was time to try something new but I am going to miss all the boys at the Scarlets because what we had there was special.
“Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to, but maybe I will be winning silverware with the Ospreys next season.”
Williams’ move across the Loughor Bridge seemed an odd one given the Scarlets’ impressive form in each of the last two campaigns.
But despite being the subject of offers from big spending English and French clubs, the Newcastle Emlyn product is content with his decision.
Williams has 57 Wales caps to his name and would have had to have give up his international career next season if he’d moved abroad.
From the 2018-19 campaign onwards, only Wales players with more than 60 caps can play their club rugby abroad and also represent Warren Gatland’s side.
“Moving from the Scarlets to the Ospreys did play on my mind, but if I want to play for Wales I have to stay in Wales,” Williams said. “If I was to move abroad I would be giving up my Wales career which is something I don’t want to do.
“You have thoughts all the time about whether you have made the right decision, but I am going to the Ospreys next season where things will hopefully be better.”