Which figures given three years ago she was stood on the bridge of HMNZS Wellington on patrol in the Pacific.

Sub-Lieutenant Williams served in the New Zealand navy as a warfare officer, taking the route planned by a navigator and making sure the vessel stuck to course.

“I think my experience from that is something I’ve really been able to draw on,” says the 25-year-old. “I had a lot of leadership skills and stuff from that, which I’m finding now is kind of crossing over into how I am with the team.”

Williams spent five years with the navy before changing tack.

She only took a year’s secondment initially when she decided to give herself the chance of fulfilling her rugby dreams with Wales.

She still calls the navy her Plan B, but two PWR titles at the Circus – including a player of the season last term and a try in this year’s final win over Saracens – as well as a new contract suggests she might not need it.

“I think the decision’s been justified now,” Williams laughs after her elevation to co-captain that will begin with a two-test tour of Australia where Wales will warm up for the World Cup with games against the Wallaroos.

Born in Swansea but brought up in New Zealand from the age of four, Williams says ‘she grew up Welsh’ and was playing rugby from the very start, following in the footsteps of both her mum and dad.

There were games for North Harbour in the NPC, for Auckland’s Blues in their first ever fixture, and for the Defence Ferns, before Wales were made aware of her ambitions and her eligibility.

A phone-call in the barracks from then coach Ioan Cunningham was followed by an invitation to training and then an injury cover call-up for the last World Cup.

“I didn’t think I’d be at the next World Cup when I first came over, let alone having the trust put in me to lead the team with Alex,” she says, having won her first cap in the 2023 Six Nations. “I’ve enjoyed every single second of it. Playing for Wales is a massive honour and was a dream of mine.

“I gave myself a year and then it turned into two, but it’s just really taken off. To get the contract was Wales was massive. It meant I could do the one thing I love.”

And made the sacrifices worth it, leaving behind friends and family, even partner, behind to follow her Wales course.