He’s had to scrap plans to go to Alton Towers with his family!
Dragons RFC scrumhalf Rhodri Williams has disclosed that he received his Wales call-up after everyone else in Wales.
The ex-Bristol Bears player, who returned to Welsh rugby in 2018 to gain additional caps, claims that the announcement didn’t even cross his mind until Dai Flanagan addressed the group.
“I was quite astonished. “The email came in just before the announcement, but I wasn’t checking my phone,” Williams told the Argus. “I went straight into a meeting like any other day, and Dai announced, ‘We have four boys in,’ and I was one of them.” “It was a huge shock.”By then, everything had already been reported in the media; I found out about 2.20pm! The phone started ringing from family and friends.
“I’m still trying to wrap my brain around it. I haven’t concealed the fact that I’ve always wanted to get back in, so I’m both excited and apprehensive.
The 31-year-old was one of the surprise inclusions in Warren Gatland’s 35-man squad, and he has not played for his country since scoring a try against Scotland in the 2014 Six Nations.
That was the last of his three Cymru caps, and a decade later, you could forgive him for expecting he’d have some time off in November after planning a trip with family.
“I was supposed to have some time off, and I had planned a trip to Alton Towers with the little one and the family! The wife has been completely supportive, and these issues do arise as a rugby player,” he noted.
“I’d be dishonest if I didn’t confess there was a part of me that thought it might have faded now that I’m older. I enjoy having goals to strive for, yet there was a time when I thought the ship had sailed, but now I am overjoyed to try again.
“I was 20 at the time (of my last Wales cap), and there has been a lot of rugby played since then, so I have a lot more experience. That was a special day to come off the bench, and the boys were doing fantastic. I got on the end of a kick and scored.
“Those are good memories, and I hope I can put my best foot forward to pursue another opportunity. We meet on Monday, and I’ll attempt to put myself in the best possible position to deserve another shot.”
Williams has the opportunity to show Gatland that he deserves his place in the team when he meets Connacht in the URC this weekend. The Wales manager spoke highly about Williams’ recent form and described what he adds to the group.
“I thought he played well for the Dragons last year,” Gatland explained. “We’ve been very impressed with how he’s been playing with tempo. We’ll probably have him defend a little differently than he does with the Dragons. We need to work with him there. He’s scoring tries and running solid support lines; he’s been around for a long and has some experience.”
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