Williams has crammed a lot into his short career to date – a Triple Crown, Grand Slam, second RBS 6 Nations title and two World Cups – but his first major honour came when he helped Llanelli lift the Swalec Cup in 2010.
The then 19-year-old was learning his trade alongside many other talented youngsters in the Scatlets’ nursery side and they went to the Millennium Stadium and beat Carmarthen Quins 20-8. The Quins are back for a second shot at the title this season – the day after Judgement Day IV.
“You always want to be playing in cup finals and that was my first outing at the Millennium Stadium. It was a big occasion for me and I think I picked up the man of the match award,” recalled Williams, who has just recovered from surgery after picking up a knee injury in the World Cup win over England at Twickenham Stadium.
“It was great that two sides from west Wales, and from the Scarlets region, had reached the final and there was a bit of rivalry between us. Llanelli had a really strong side and a number of the players went on to much bigger things.
“The year after that final I got into the Welsh squad and I have always believed that the Cup final was a big stepping stone for me in my career.”
The Scarlets side that day boasted two future Welsh internationals, a player who would go on to play for England and a number of other players who have played regular regional rugby. Williams’ Newcastle Emlyn colleague Gareth Davies was at scrum half and at No 8 was Ben Morgan.
Morgan scored one of Llanelli’s two tries and full back Dan Newton got the other. Newton played more than 50 times for the Scarlets and is currently playing for London Scottish in the English Championship.
Steve Shingler was at outside half and accompanying Williams in the entre was Nic Reynolds, who notched a half-century of appearances for the Scarlets and recently helped London Welsh win the British & Irish Cup.
“I made my Llanelli debut against Pontypool at 17 and then played for the Scarlets against the Ospreys when I was 18. I’ve always said that playing for Llanelli served me well in bridging the gap between schools and youth rugby and the senior game,” said Williams.
“We were a really close knit group of players at Llanelli and it was really great to win some silverware with the players you had played alongside all season. We had a few beers in the dressing room afterwards and then had a great night out.
“It’s great for the Scarlets region having two more of our clubs going to Principality Stadium for the Cup final once again this season. I’m not sure who is going to win, but we’ll be backing both sides at the club.
“All the players like to keep an eye on what is going on in the teams in our region. Both Gareth and I are in regular touch with Newcastle Emlyn, where we both learned the game, and we never forget where we came from.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the club and all the coaches who helped us along the way. It was great for us, and the club, when we helped Llanelli win the Swalec Cup and then go on to play for Wales together.
“Newcastle Emlyn reached the Swalec Plate final last season and that was a great day out for the club and the town. Now it is the turn of Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins to head to the Principality Stadium and the only piece of advice I can offer the players is to enjoy the experience. The same goes for another Scarlets club, Burry Port who are in the Bowl Final on Sunday.
“It really is a great day and a magical moment when you lift the cup. It is an occasion I will never forget.”
The 25-year-old Williams is now back in full training at the Scarlets and is hoping the region can reach the Guinness PRO12 play-offs to try to extend their season. To do that they will have to beat the Dragons and then go to Munster on the final day of the regular season and get something out of the game.
“Now that I am back in full training with the other players at the Scarlets it feels as though the injury rehab has gone quickly. But after the operation, and in the early stages of recovery, it felt like as though it was dragging on and on,” added Williams.
“It has been frustrating at times, but you just have to get on with it and work hard. It is all part of the job.
“I just hope I can get involved with the Scarlets before the season finishes and see what happens from there. I’m not thinking of anything other than that at this moment.
SSE SWALEC Finals Day Sunday 1 May
SSE SWALEC Bowl Final Burry Port v Taffs Well
SSE SWALEC Plate Final Bedlinog v Penallta
SSE SWALEC Cup Final Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery
Tickets for the day £10 for adults, £5 under 16s from www.wru.wales/tickets
2010 Swalec Cup Final
Llanelli 20-8 Carmarthen Quins
HT: 17-3
Scorers: Llanelli: Tries: D Newton, B Morgan; Cons: S Shingler 2; Pen: S Shingler 2. Carmarthen Quins: Try: J Davies; Pen: G Cull
Llanelli: Dan Newton; Dale Ford, Nic Reynolds, Scott Williams, Chris Keenan; Steven Shingler, Gareth Davies; Shaun Hopkins, Craig Hawkins (captain), Jamie Corsi, Joel Galley, Nathan White, Adam Powell, Duane Eager, Ben Morgan
Replacements: Ceri Jones, Rhys Lawrence, Ed Siggery, Steffan Phillips, Justin James, Steve Martin, Jonny Lewis
YC: D Ford, B Morgan
Carmarthen Quins: Anthony Rees; Richard Carter, Andrew Banfield, Tristan Davies (captain), Jamie Davies; Gareth Cull, Sililo Martens; Andrew Beaujean, Richard Wilkes, Kevin Jones, Gavin Evans, Martin Morgan, Andrew Thomas, Ellis Lloyd, Sione Timani
Replacements: Matthew Monaghan, Craig Kelly, Simon Gardiner, Chris Jones, Gareth Williams, Ricky Richards, James Garland
YC: R Wilkes
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU)
