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WalesOnline understands the Bristol playmaker has been contacted by Wales
Bristol Bears playmaker James Williams says he would love to play Test rugby, with Wales understood to have already made contact with the centre.
Steve Tandy held a pre-Six Nations connection camp across two days last week for Welsh-based players, with the idea to get his philosophies across to a wide number of squad hopefuls. There was no rugby or training activities, with the focus instead being about building connections.
Williams, being English-based, would not have been able to attend in person.
However, it’s understood that contact has been made with him – with the 28-year-old seemingly in the frame for a potential Six Nations call-up.
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Given the number of players involved in the camp, there’s no guarantee he’d be called up.
But his playing style does suit the sort of inside centre attack coach Matt Sherratt likes to use, with the former Cardiff coach favouring a playmaking option in the 12 jersey.
Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins shared those duties in the autumn, with Williams cut from a similar cloth to those pair; all three are able to play fly-half as well as in midfield.
Williams, who signed a new deal with high-flying Bristol before Christmas, recently confirmed he harbours Test ambitions.
“Of course,” said Williams when asked by BristolLive writer John Evely about his Test ambitions. “When I wasn’t playing in the Premiership, I was motivated to play in the Premiership.
“When you’re playing in the Premiership, you’re motivated to play international rugby. If it happens, it happens.
“First and foremost, I love playing for Bristol. I love the way we play.
“I love playing with this group of lads. I’ve got options all around me. I’ve got quite an easy job to give it to Benhard (Janse van Rensburg) or (Louis Rees-) Zammit.
“They’ve making my job easier. But yes, of course I do. Of course I want to play international rugby.”
Williams has put in a number of strong performance for Bristol this season, being described as the glue of the free-scoring backline, while director of rugby Pat Lam previously compared him to former Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
