'I can see him making it at the top level. He's got the world at his feet' - Nick Kennedy on Scarlets target Johnny Williams
When Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Williams were confirmed as heading for Japanese Top League, there was a collective sigh in Wales, followed by hands to the head and a phrase rhyming with ‘clucking bell’.
With Jonathan Davies’ long-term injury yet to see a firm return date inked-in, a 12-13 combination that had so long looked like a position of strength was looking threadbare.
The emergence of Nick Tompkins in the Six Nations helped, and months later, the crisis in midfield is appearing to subside as Wales regenerates.
One statutesque long-term Polyfilla could come in the shape of Newcastle Falcons centre Johnny Williams. The strapping 6ft 3in, 16st 4lb centre is heavily rumoured with a move to the Scarlets and despite no red smoke emanating from Parc y Scarlets yet, if it transpires he will be backed to fill a Parkes-sized hole in midfield.
Williams’ Welsh links – he has a father from North Wales – are well documented and he is not yet captured by the Red Rose despite playing for the England Saxons against the Barbarians last year as it was non-cap game. As an early developer he has plenty of experience, making his Premiership debut at 18 with London Irish in the 2015-16 season. It bears reminding that he is still only 23.
One man who knows him better than most is Nick Kennedy, the former director of rugby at London Irish and now head of recruitment at Saracens. The former England lock had talent ID’d the big centre having progressed through the school’s and Academy system.
“I signed Johnny straight from school where London Irish had a link up with his St Paul’s Catholic College in the area. He was a star for them and I remember he’d played a little bit at full-back and fly-half. He was our second ever signing when we took over at the Academy and to me it was a complete no brainer. He was massive, had this big fend and an excellent offloading game.”
After three seasons with London Irish, Williams spent last season with Newcastle, impressing in the Championship but despite his obvious physical gifts, Kennedy believes there is much more to his game than simply a crash-ball 12. “I guess with Irish in the Premiership and with Newcastle in the Championship, people used him as big ball-carrying centre to give side’s gainline but that’s to undersell him. He’s got these incredible soft hands and he can kick the ball miles.”
Saracens’ head of recruitment said he has also been impressed with Williams’ mental fortitude after overcoming cancer at such a tender age. “Johnny had a battle with testicular cancer and took it head on. I spoke to him throughout his treatment and he was very methodical, did his research and came out the other side playing for Newcastle by the New Year, five months after being diagnosed. He’s a very determined, very competitive individual and knows what he wants. He’ll have his eye on a starting spot wherever he’s playing. I can see him making it at the top level. He’s already played well for the Saxons against the BaaBaas and I think if he can stay free of injury he’s got the world at his feet.”
Kennedy knows if the move transpires, Welsh fans will be quick to liken him to the likes of 97-cap British and Irish Lion Jamie Roberts and Kennedy believes he could be a hybrid of some of Wales’ best midfielders in recent years. “In a way, he’s a cross between Jamie and Hadleigh (Parkes) but conversely he has a unique skillset. He’s very broad and has those long levers. For Irish, he never took a backward step. I guess he was used as a bit of a battering ram but he did a very good job. He had a few injuries but perhaps that was because he was asked to do too much too young.”
'This is where I began my career, where I came through the ranks and I have a huge amount of friends at the club.'https://t.co/YktFKBhvk8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 25, 2020
After being born in the West Country, if he does find a home in West Wales, Kennedy says on ability alone, Williams should excite Welsh fans. “Johnny’s dad is big rugby fan and in my opinion he definitely has the potential to play for Wales. Obviously with Glenn Delaney head coach at the Scarlets now and his former backs coach at London Irish Richard Whiffin down there too he would have credit in the bank. Those deep links do help and go a long way. I wish him well.”
Centres of attention: Wales build towards 2023
Nick Tompkins, Dragons (age 25)
A revelation in the Six Nations as Wales’ best ball-carrier, Tompkins is already a multiple Premiership Rugby title winner and Champions Cup winner with Saracens and qualifies for Wales through a Welsh grandmother who hails from Wrexham. Can play at 12 and 13 and is his loan-signing is a huge boost for the Dragons.
Another key man who won't be available for Sarries next season. https://t.co/xqRu0PeplF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 26, 2020
Tyler Morgan, Scarlets (24)
Morgan played with some aplomb in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final at 19 and though he has struggled with form and fitness in recent years with the Dragons, he has been backed to kickstart his career in West Wales.
Owen Watkin, Ospreys (23)
Watkin prefers to play in the wider 13 channel where he can use his 6ft 2in, 15st 10lb frame to maximum effect. Already with 22 Wales caps, he made a difference from the bench during the 2019 Rugby World Cup with his rip and strip. Now over injury, he has bags of potential.
Kieran Williams, Ospreys (23)
Extremely powerful, Williams is a former Wales U20 international and in a very testing season for the Ospreys, he has stood up with a series of hard-running performances from inside-centre. Showed his mental strength after battling back from two years of injury.
Ben Thomas, Cardiff Blues (21)
A highly-skilled inside-centre who has played at fly-half, Thomas has the pace, vision and execution to excel as a playmaking 12. A former Premiership Player of the Year, Thomas came to the attention with a series of assured performances with the Blues earlier this season. His father Pat is a former British light-middleweight boxing champion.
Corey Baldwin, Exeter Chiefs (21)
A rarity in that he is leaving Wales, much like Rhys Carre 12 months ago, to try and improve as a player at one of the English rugby’s best clubs, Exeter Chiefs. Baldwin, who can play at 13 and on the wing, is highly rated at the Scarlets and just 21, he will learn from the likes of Henry Slade, Alex Cuthbert, Stuart Hogg and Jack Nowell. On signing him, Rob Baxter labelled Baldwin, ‘special’.
Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Ospreys (20)
Another player who will emerge from a chastening season with the Ospreys a stronger player, Wheeler is a strapping 6ft 3in inside-centre with a decent offloading game and a strong defensive game. He scored against New Zealand in the U20 Junior World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
2 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
2 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to comments