Williams out to end his career on a high

> Continued from Page 1

involved in the club and the city.”

Williams is proud to have played his part in the rejuvenation of the club in their first season back.

“Everyone’s bought in and given themselves to the club, which is great and everyone’s pulling in the same direction, which makes things a lot easier,” he said. “We’ve just gelled quite quickly, and credit to the group and Matt Everard really for bringing us all together and shaping things in the right way for things to grow.

“It takes teams years to find out their identity. We had an idea of how we’d like to play, and we had foundations that we’d like to build our style on but you are kind of figuring it out as you go.

“It was a bit of a unique beginning because, although you want to win, I think the main thing was we wanted to find a performance that suited us and that can deliver performances good enough to win rugby matches.”

Williams has been integral to Worcester‘s final berth but ultimately, his body was telling him it was his time. “I think I spent half an hour trying to tell Matt Everard,” he admitted. “I really didn’t want to let him down. And he kind of summed it up in five seconds and said, ‘You want to walk out the front door instead of the back.’

“Training every day was becoming quite tough and trying to maintain that physical standard I’ve loved having. I found that I took the injuries quite hard. I’d finished my insurance broking exams and I was offered a role. I felt like it was the right time to jump at that and face a new challenge.

Worcester’s season has been one of resurrection. From a first squad meeting in August to a play-off run in May, the Warriors have been on their way back from the dead.

In their semi-final against Ealing, Worcester epitomised their phoenix-like rise by qualifying for the final in the most dramatic way imaginable.

Dan Jones looked to have snatched victory for Ealing, making it 29-27 as the clock turned red, but Worcester retained Will Reed’s restart and

Siva Naulago put Jake Garside in down the right to spark scenes of jubilation from the Warriors contingent.

Williams said: “I didn’t go crazy as I had popped my rib cartilage in the 65th minute. I was taking cover in the dugout but I was absolutely elated. I was in a bit of pain, but just so happy for the group. We believed we could do it – it was an 80-minute match and we did at the end.”

Williams’ ribs should be fine for today’s match and the final at Goldington Road will be an emotional affair for the community that was split apart when the Warriors collapsed in September 2022.

“It’s only until you speak to fans and experience those games where you’re seeing absolute sellouts that you realise what it means to people. I feel very lucky to have been involved in that,” said Williams. “It’s a really nice rugby community here, which is great and something

I’m very used to from back home. It has felt like a home from home, really.”

Williams, left, will go head-to-head at scrum-half with Bedford captain Alex Day, right. Day was a Junior World Championship winner in 2013 in a backline featuring Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson and Henry Slade but believes today’s Elior Champ Rugby final will represent a career highlight.

“It will probably be the highlight of my career,” said Day, who joined Bedford permanently in 2021. “There might have been some ‘bigger’ things earlier in my career but I think about the club and what it means to me, what it has given me, how it has given me a new lease of life and how much I enjoy it.

“Being backed by Mikey (Rayer) to lead the boys means a lot and it will be a special day. Fingers crossed we can get the job done – we have a tough task but it will be a great day regardless.”

Blues did the double over Worcester in the regular season, backing up a 35-19 victory at Goldington Road with a 28-14 success at Sixways.

But Day knows the formbook will go out the window, particularly with Warriors riding high following their last-gasp win at previously unbeaten Ealing.

“They are one of the hardest games we had this season, especially away when we battled to a win there,” he said.

“You only have to look at the calibre of players they have… we are aware of what they did in becoming the only team to beat Ealing this year. That should set our alarm bells ringing and they are going to be up for it, as will we. It will be a good ding-dong.”

Whatever the outcome, former Saracen Day remains an advocate for the return of the play-offs.

He added: “I’ve played in this league for quite a few years now and when you get to the end of the season and there are just league positions up for grabs, some games can be dull affairs – or they might be high-scoring, but there is not really much on the line.

“Last Friday was one of the best nights I’ve been involved in at Goldington Road and hopefully we can go one better this weekend.”

For more Elior Champ Rugby news, stories, highlights, and more, subscribe to their weekly newsletter