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Liam Williams having medical at Newcastle Red Bulls
By Josh Raisey
Liam Williams is on the verge of becoming Newcastle Red Bulls’ latest signing.
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RugbyPass understand the Wales, and British & Irish Lions full-back is having his medical at the club ahead of a potential move.
A deal would come swiftly after the club signed full-back Stefan Coetzee from the Pumas in South Africa, who stands at a formidable 1.96m. Alongside Williams, who is comfortable on the wing and at full-back and famed for his strength under the high ball, the Red Bulls are guaranteed aerial supremacy this coming season.
The 34-year-old has been without a club following his short-term spell at Saracens last season, who he joined after a year with Kubota Spears in Japan Rugby League One.
The 91-cap Wales international had already spent two seasons with Saracens between 2017 and 2019, winning an Investec Champions Cup and Premiership double in London, and now looks poised to continue his journey in English rugby.
He could be reunited with his former side sooner than expected, with Newcastle hosting Saracens in the opening game of the Gallagher PREM season on Friday, September 26.
The Red Bulls got their season underway in the PREM Rugby Cup last week, beating Harlequins 26-14 in front of 9,089 fans – a record for a cup match at Kingston Park. Their recruitment drive has not stopped there, though, with plenty of signings set to arrive after the first few weeks of action in the league.
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One late arrival will be Christian Wade, who will join from Wigan Warriors at the end of the Super League season and needs only nine more tries to overtake Chris Ashton’s record haul of 101 Premiership tries. Alongside Williams, the former England wing will form a lethal back-three, particularly from counter-attacks, and the five-cap Lion could well help his potential team-mate chase down Ashton’s record.