55 / 68
53
“Les talks about this building
phase, but he also wants us to
win things on the way to long-
term consistency, and he, Neil
Doak, Allen Clarke, Joe Barakat
and Niall Malone make a fine
coaching unit.
“They’re imaginative, demanding,
encouraging, strict, but always fair.
They give us all a nudge when we
need it, and that keeps us on our
toes as we’re all mates but we know
that each player has real competition
for the jersey every week,” said
Williams.
Gemma, his wife, and his two
daughters Liana and Mila, are clearly
the ones who matter most in his non-
rugby life, and he suddenly looks far
from the rock-hard back-rower when he
talks of them.
“We’re very happy here, and they are the
reason I enjoy playing rugby so much. I’ve
dragged Gemma across the world, but
she always supports me and encourages
me. Personally, I am a very lucky man,” he
says.
His deal with Ulster comes to an end in the
summer, and he swears he has given no
thought to what the future holds.
“It’s a professional sport, in a way a cut-
throat business, so you take what happens
in your stride.”
Williams will move to Cardiff next season,
bringing an end to his four year stay at
Kingspan Stadium.
“With these players, with these coaches
and the shared ambition in Ulster, of
course, I will do everything I can to win
some silverware this season.
“We have a big five months of rugby to
play, in Europe and in the PRO12, and
there are targets we have set ourselves as
individuals and as a unit.
“I just want to play my part in that, close to
the edge at times but always for the team.
“Always for the team.”