Sad Day as Williams Retires

It’s a sad day for the Blues, as fan favourite Gareth Williams is forced to retire from rugby with a neck injury. With 145 caps, he currently has the 4th most appearances for the region.

Hooker, Williams, arrived at the Cardiff Arms Park in 2003 as one the first Cardiff Blues signings following the regional rebranding. He and fellow new arrival Rhys Thomas spent the next 8 years competing both at club level and internationally for the prestigious number 2 shirt. Of the rivalry, Williams said;

"I've had a great competition with Rhys for the number 2 or 16 shirt, depending on who we were playing! That's been massive in keeping us both going and we've become good friends through it, which has been a bonus. I've been lucky enough to play with such amazing players and some great characters of the game and so I couldn't have wished to be in a better side. I've enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks, lads."

The latest injury, of a long list, was suffered in the Blues pre-season game against Bath and involves the neck; an area where Williams has already undergone an operation.

"Basically, the neck was damaged during the pre season friendly against Bath. I damaged some more discs in the neck close to where I had the operation last year, which are now fused together. If I were to have the operation, it would be quite a big procedure and the doctors said that if I did come back playing, I would be opening myself up to maybe some permanent damage and there is no guarantee it would work. So it's too much of a risk, especially in the position that I play in the front row.”

Despite being arguably Wales’ best prop for a period of 2-3 years, Williams only has 9 caps to his name, a figure which doesn’t really do him justice. Despite this, he admits has had many highlights in his career, but the lack of opportunity to pull on the red jersey has left him a little miffed;

"The first few years with the Blues were tough. We were a new region and there were some dark times but we came through it. Towards the end of my career, we won the EDF Cup and Amlin Cup, which was amazing. Playing for Wales has been a great honour, something every Welsh boy dreams of. Maybe I didn't play as much as I would have liked but considering some injuries I've had and the timing of them, they didn't help matters. I've always told Robin McBryde, no matter how hard I work I would never be 6ft 3 and 18 st and he wasn't fussed on that. Ha! Ha! But you can't please everyone."

Among his ‘thank you’s’, Williams mentioned chairman Peter Thomas, former coach Dai Young and conditioning coaches Dan Baugh and Trystan Bevan. But he reserved special praise for his fellow players and fans,

“I've enjoyed my time with the Blues because we've had such a great bunch of boys here and so finally I would like to thank them. The fans have also been great. We've always had strong and loyal support at the Blues"

From everyone at theArmsPark.co.uk, many, many thanks for all the barnstorming displays and 145 100% performances. Best of luck Ga!