Williams has been contacted by the Welsh national coaches and says he’s ready to pledge his allegiance to Wales
Bristol Bears inside centre James Williams has admitted for the first time he is going all out to try and break into the Wales squad. The Welsh-qualified playmaker’s fine form for the English side has already seen him linked with a possible call-up and he’s now confirmed he has been contacted by the Welsh national coaches.
Williams, 29, has been described as the “Roy Keane” of the Bears’ side by coach Pat Lam and qualifies for Wales through his mother, Yana, who represented the country at cross country in the 1980s.
He has previously been a little coy about the prospect of a Welsh call-up, but a telephone conversation with Matt Sherratt ahead of the recent Six Nations has fixed his mindset on achieving his international ambitions in the next year. WalesOnline first reported Wales’ interest earlier this year.
Williams told RugbyPass: “There’s a big driving factor for motivation as I’m getting on at 29, and there is a World Cup next year. So if there’s a time to do it, it’s now. Everything that I’m trying to do at Bristol is sort of geared towards trying to put myself in the shop window to play for Wales.
“I spoke with Matt Sherratt, who called me before the squad was announced. We had a really good chat, so it’s just nice to know that I’m genuinely in the plans. But obviously, it comes down to keeping playing well.
“The conversation was all really positive. Obviously, I was disappointed not to make the Six Nations squad, but the fact they’ve actually reached out is a good thing. So I just need to keep playing well and then what will be will be. If it happens, it happens.”
Williams’ playing style suits the sort of inside centre attack coach Sherratt likes to use, with the former Cardiff coach favouring a playmaking option in the 12 jersey. Williams can also play outside-half and is a capable goal-kicker for Bristol.
He has proved an astute signing since joining from Hartpury in 2022 after struggling to nail down a place at a top side previously.
Wales’ interest in Williams comes a decade after he first came on the Welsh Rugby Union’s radar while playing for National League One side Moseley. He was invited to train with Wales Under-20s but was not selected.
He was then offered the chance to go and play for RGC in north Wales but the move was not one he wanted.
“That probably put me out of the Welsh loop a little bit at that age, and because I was slightly out of the system, no one really knew who I was. But I definitely want it now,” Williams added.
Bristol coach Lam has described Williams as the glue that holds his team together, adding: “He’s probably like the Roy Keane of our team attitude wise. He won’t give in and he’ll fight for everything.
“My twelves are really important. They need to be able to play 10, drive the game and have second eyes.
“He’s another reject who was playing in the Championship. He was at Sale but got let go there and went to Hartpury.
“I saw him when we played them in pre-season and I thought who is this guy? They almost beat us and he was the one driving it.
“But I watched him closely and the way he controlled everything, so I offered him a contract. He’s taken that opportunity very well.”