Lloyd Williams was the architect of one of Welsh rugby’s most celebrated moments.
It came in the 70th minute of the 2015 Rugby World Cup meeting with England at Twickenham, with Warren Gatland’s side trailing 25–18 and already ravaged by injury.
Deployed out of position on the wing, Williams found himself in unfamiliar territory as Wales built a sustained attack. From there, he broke down the flank before executing a perfectly judged kick infield, which Gareth Davies collected to score the decisive try with Wales going on to win 28-25.
“When I think back to that game the first memory I’ve got is how much belief we had in that group,” Williams tells WalesOnline.
“We’d had a lot of setbacks with injuries, not just in the lead-up to the game but during the game itself. We’d taken some big hits injury-wise with some big players missing.
“But we always had some belief in the squad that we could still win the game.
“It was always something Shaun Edwards drove. He used to say you could come on anywhere so you need to know your role within the system.
“I came on and had a bit of a discussion with Cuthy (Alex Cuthbert). He said, “You go on the left and I’ll go on the right.”
“Naturally as a scrum-half you are always running that inside line and you find yourself in a lot of space sometimes.
“I think that’s why kicking the ball into that space was at the forefront of my mind. Fortunately Gareth, as many great nines do, was there to score that try.
“I was very fortunate to be involved in many special moments like that throughout my career.”
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A career spanning almost two decades has come to an end, one that brought 32 caps for Wales and two Six Nations titles, including the Grand Slam of 2012.
It concluded last week with Williams playing a pivotal role in Worcester Warriors’ victory over Bedford Blues in the English Championship play-off final.
“I will miss rugby, yes,” says Williams. “It is starting to sink in that I’ll miss that purpose.
“I love training and keeping fit but the main reason I like rugby is because of the games.
“I will still do a bit of one on one coaching and I really enjoy it but I was keen to get going on a different career and a new challenge.”
Williams’ next chapter sees him take up a role as an insurance broker with Thomas Carroll Brokers.
He admits it will feel strange stepping away from a sport that has defined his life for nearly two decades, but he is determined to make a success of the challenge ahead.
“I got to 34 at Cardiff and I’d been there a long time,” he tells WalesOnline.
“Cardiff were in a transitional period and it gave me a nudge to start thinking about what I’m going to do after rugby.
“I signed for Ealing and went to London which is when I started sitting my insurance broking exams.
“I’ve been doing them for two or three years now and I finished my most recent one a couple of weeks ago.
“Thomas Carroll is an insurance firm which is based in south Wales but operate out of London, Bristol and all over the country. They put me through my exams.
“Another former scrum-half in Rob Jones is somebody I leant on for rugby stuff but was a big support off the field.
“Rob is someone I used to do training sessions with when I was 16 or 17. He used to come to help me.
“We’ve always had a good relationship. He was my mentor during my rugby career and now in the world of insurance.”
The transition from professional rugby to the business world is a significant one, so what exactly will Williams’ new role involve?
“I’ll be doing a lot of learning but I’ll be going into a business development role to start with,” said the 36-year-old.
“I’m conscious not to look too far into the future but that’s what I’ve been doing over the last year and a half anyway so it is a natural progression from that.
“I’ll be doing a lot more of that stuff. I’ll be trying to fly the flag for Thomas Carroll and build relationships with different people.
“I have been doing it for the last 18 months so it is more of the same but hopefully on a lot busier scale.”
“In rugby things can be quite militant. Things are mapped out everyday for you whereas I think this will be a bit more fluid.
“I’ll have to organise my own diary. That’ll be the main one for me which will take some getting used to at the start, which I’m prepared for.
“I’m hoping I can adapt to it quickly.”
Before turning his full attention to the next stage of his career, Williams has taken the opportunity to reflect on a journey in rugby that has spanned almost 20 years.
Rugby runs deep in the family. His father, Brynmor Williams, represented both Wales and the British & Irish Lions, ensuring the game was woven into Williams’ upbringing from an early age.
It proved to be a path he would follow with distinction. Over the course of a successful professional career, Williams represented Cardiff Rugby, Ealing Trailfinders and Worcester Warriors, while earning 32 caps for Wales.
Competition for the scrum-half jersey was fierce throughout much of his international career. Williams played in a golden era for Welsh No 9s, battling with the likes of Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb and Gareth Davies for a place in the side.
Yet when he reflects on his achievements, there are three moments that stand above all others.
“Getting my first cap was massive for me and my family but there was a lot of work that went into getting that opportunity which I’m seriously grateful for,” he says,
“Playing for Cardiff during my first season was special. I grew up supporting Cardiff and I used to go down to most home games so to then be training and playing for Cardiff was special.
“Another big highlight was playing with my brother, Tom, for Cardiff. We used to down to the Arms Park and used to say one day we’d love to have the chance to do this together.
“The day we were able to do that was very special for both of us. We are very close, had trained a lot with each other growing up and spent a lot of time together.
“That was a special personal thing for us.
“The two World Cups were massive, and playing a part in two of them was a massive achievement for me.
“Winning the Challenge Cup with Cardiff in Bilbao was also very special.
“I experienced the same with Worcester at the end. You play a lot of seasons but the ones where you are actually competing for silverware are the ones you really remember.”
Williams was fortunate to share dressing rooms with some of the game’s biggest personalities and most memorable characters throughout his career.
From experienced internationals to larger-than-life club team-mates, he encountered no shortage of colourful figures during nearly two decades in the professional game.
Indeed, while results and achievements inevitably dominate the record books, it is often the characters who leave the most lasting impression.
“I came through the academy in great company with players like Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny,” he said.
“They were great people to follow.
“They had some good traits to try to copy. They were so professional.
“In terms of funny characters and guys who were brilliant for the dressing room Lewis Jones was one.
“He was one of the best team players around because whether he was starting or not involved he would bring the same energy. Throughout the season it is quite tough as a professional rugby player if you are not playing.
“It can be quite hard to stay on a level playing field and take the emotion out of it but Lewis was fantastic. If we were starting, he’d be brilliant and if he wasn’t involved he’d do everything to facilitate and help the team.
“I think characters like that are gold in rugby.”
The final whistle may have sounded on Williams’ playing career, but a new chapter is only just beginning.
Rugby has shaped much of his life, from the Arms Park terraces as a boy to World Cups and Grand Slams as a professional.
Now that he has hung up his boots, he leaves the game with cherished memories, lasting friendships and a reputation as one of Welsh rugby’s most dependable servants.
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