The 93-cap Wales international called time on his Test career last week
Former Wales full-back Liam Williams(Image: PA )
Outgoing Wales international Liam Williams has described the current state of Welsh rugby as an “absolute shambles”, but believes Steve Tandy is the right man to lead the country forward.
The 93-cap Wales and five-cap British & Irish Lions back called time on his Test career last week, bringing the curtain down on a glittering era which included a Grand Slam, a Six Nations title and a run to within touching distance of a World Cup final.
Looking back from what he admits is a low ebb for the national game, Williams did not hold back in his assessment.
“It’s an absolute shambles isn’t it?” he told RugbyPass. “I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s going to take a little while for us to see it.”
Williams insists his decision to step away was not driven by Wales’ slide down the world rankings, but he acknowledged the stark contrast between the so-called golden generation he was part of and the current struggles.
During his time in red, Wales lifted major silverware and were genuine contenders on the global stage. Now, structural uncertainty off the field and inconsistency on it have left the game facing searching questions.
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Few situations illustrate that turmoil more clearly than at the Ospreys, where speculation continues over the region’s long-term future amid reports their owners, Y11 Sports & Media, are set to buy Cardiff.
That manifested itself in a vocal protest at the Brewery Field on Saturday night, where supporters and ex-players turned out en masse.
“It basically means the Ospreys are gone in 18 months,” Williams said. “And who’s going to want to play for another 18 months when you know at the end of it, you’re probably going to be back on the building site?
“Nobody in that situation’s going to give 100%. It’s desperately sad to see.”
Despite the doom and gloom, Williams has backed the appointment of Steve Tandy and believes the Wales head coach is the right man to steer the national side forward.
“Steve Tandy is a class bloke. I worked with him on the 2021 Lions tour and I personally think he is the man for the job,” he said.
“It’s going to take a year or two with the young squad we’ve got, and I think this World Cup is probably a bit of a push with everything going on behind the scenes. But there’s always going to be peaks and troughs, especially during World Cup cycles.”
Now 34 and turning 35 in two months, Williams admits his body has made the retirement decision for him.
“My body is trying to tell me that it’s time to give it all up,” he revealed. “I had a scan on my knee on Monday and a Zoom call with a specialist and it looks like I’ll be packing it all in soon.
“A couple of weeks ago it was the best I’d felt in two years, but I had another whack on my knee and it was just swelling up. I ran on Monday and by Monday night and Tuesday, I could hardly walk. The pain was excruciating. For me, it’s probably time.”