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'This is Carys Williams, but she's running on for England. What's going on here?!'
As Wales prepare to take on Australia in their final pool match at the Rugby World Cup, former England player Carys Williams-Morris has been given the nod to start in the centres alongside captain Hannah Jones.
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In what will be her first ever World Cup appearance Williams-Morris said: “Not being involved in these last two games, I’ve stayed really positive and worked hard and so to get my chance now against Australia I just hope I can bring what I want to the game.
“I’m just embracing my journey and my time here and loving being part of the team and with all the girls. I’m very grateful to be here and never thought it could happen.”
The reason the centre never thought it could happen was due to previously being capped by England. It was only late last year when World Rugby approved its birth right amendment allowing players to transfer unions that a previously closed door opened up.
Williams-Morris was capped five times by the Red Roses, her latest coming in 2019, being offered a professional contract by the RFU in January of that year and playing for the national set up for eight months.
“I didn’t think it would be possible for me to play for Wales after previously being capped for England,” said the 29-year-old. “The fact that the rule was changed meant it all fell into place nicely for me and was signed off.
“I obviously sound very English and was born and brought up in England, but both my parents are Welsh and all our family as well. I was brought up at home speaking Welsh, have always supported Wales through the Six Nations and then when I was about 16 or 17 I was at college in England playing in the rugby academy there, and got the call up to play for England Under 20s.
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“Then last year the rules changed where if you’ve not played for country for three years, you can play for another nation if you qualify for them.”
The midfield player who currently plays for Premier 15s side Loughborough Lightning began training with Wales in January this year before being officially given the go ahead to wear the three feathers and admits it was a huge relief to receive the green light.
“In all honesty, I didn’t enjoy my time playing for England in the U20s and wasn’t comfortable in that environment. I’d always wanted to play for Wales, and being capped is something that I know has made my family really proud.
“I think it’s always important to be honest and transparent with people and, I took the opportunity when it came around for England and then again for Wales.
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Williams-Morris’ dreams continued to come true as shortly after being granted permission to play for Wales by World Rugby, she was awarded elite athlete status by her employers, the RAF, meaning she will be able to train full-time for club and country for the next year.
However, the centre admits it will be strange seeing a few familiar faces once again at the World Cup.
“It’ll be interesting to see my old England team mates in New Zealand, I used to play for Litchfield so know players like Emily Scarratt well. I expect I’ll get some stick from them!
“However, I probably got more stick when I played for England in the Six Nations against Wales. I came off the bench and the commentators said: ‘This is Carys Williams, but she’s running on for England. What’s going on here?!’
“In less than a year I’ve gone from thinking I would never be able to play for Wales to going to a World Cup and thanks to the RAF and my elite athlete status I’m able to train full time.”
🏴 v 🇦🇺 Wales' final team announcement of the @rugbyworldcup Pool stage
Am ddiweddglo gemau grŵp Cymru
🗞️https://t.co/MT3LO2SeKA#HerStory #EiHanesHi pic.twitter.com/IT4xuK6ImA
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) October 20, 2022
And now for Wales the focus will be on the Wallaroos after they come into this weekend’s match off the back of a tight win over Scotland.
Speaking about having Williams-Morris in the World Cup squad and in the starting XV to face Australia in their final and crucial pool game, Head Coach Ioan Cunningham said: “With Carys at 13, she’s a big presence there in the centre which is what we what to see this weekend with the physical side of her game.
“It’s a good opportunity for her to put her hand up in a huge game. We have to start on the front foot. If we step off at all it’s going to be a tough afternoon.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Will rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to comments