England-born Bristol centre Jimmy Williams targets Wales' World Cup place

Bristol Bears inside centre Jimmy Williams admits he fancies a crack at being part of the Wales squad that heads to Australia for the 2027 World Cup.

Earlier this year, Pat Lam labelled Williams the glue in his Bears backline. He then narrowly missed out on selection for Steve Tandy’s Six Nations squad, but the 29-year-old is not in the mood to give up on his dream of winning international honours.

Williams, who has scored one try in 16 appearances this season, first came onto Wales’ radar a decade ago while playing for Birmingham Moseley in National League One, when he was invited to attend an under-20s camp.

He later fell out of the picture but has played a central role in the Bears’ push for honours this season and qualifies for Wales through his mother, Yana, who ran in international cross-country championships for her country in the 1980s.

“There’s a big driving factor for motivation as I’m getting on at 29, and there is a World Cup next year. So if there’s a time to do it, it’s now. Everything that I’m trying to do at Bristol is sort of geared towards trying to put myself in the shop window to play for Wales.

“I spoke with Matt Sherratt, who called me before the squad was announced. We had a really good chat, so it’s just nice to know that I’m genuinely in the plans. But obviously, it comes down to keeping playing well.

“The conversation was all really positive. Obviously, I was disappointed not to make the Six Nations squad, but the fact they’ve actually reached out is a good thing. So I just need to keep playing well and then what will be will be. If it happens, it happens.

“The main thing is you need to keep playing well for Bristol. If we’re winning trophies and ultimately if the team is playing well, it probably means I’m playing well, which then goes hand in hand with international recognition.

“When I was 18 or 19, I was playing for Moseley in National One. I went to Wales Under-20s, I think it was before the Six Nations, and just didn’t get picked. There was an opportunity to go and play for RGC in North Wales and, essentially, I didn’t want to do that.

“So that probably put me out of the Welsh loop a little bit at that age, and because I was slightly out of the system, no one really knew who I was. But I definitely want it now,” he told RugbyPass.