Wales have called up New Zealand-based back-rower Kate Williams to their World Cup squad in place of injured flanker Alisha Butchers.
The North Harbour Hibiscus and New Zealand Defence forward, who was born in Swansea and moved to New Zealand with her family aged four, could make her Wales international debut in the quarter-final against reigning world champions the Black Ferns in their home World Cup this Saturday.
Williams, a warfare officer in the New Zealand Navy, travelled to Wales to train with Ioan Cunningham's squad in their pre-season camp in July. Williams was captain of North Harbour Hibiscus in the Farah Palmer Cup in 2020 and 2021 and recently represented the New Zealand Defence team in the Defence Rugby World Cup when she got the call from Wales boss Cunningham.
The former Scarlets forwards coach said: "Kate has been on our radar for a while. She’s Welsh, born in Swansea and has played a high level of rugby in New Zealand. We are delighted to have her in our squad and excited to see what she can do in the future. When she trained with us in July, I made her aware that she could be involved if anything happened while we were over here and I’m pleased with the way she’s got stuck into training and settled into our environment."
Williams said heading to Wales this summer was the best thing she has done.
"My whole family is Welsh and I’ve always felt a strong connection to Wales despite growing up here. We’ve always supported Wales as a family, my parents have made sure my brother and I feel a part of Wales.
"I got a great opportunity to train with Wales in July through a grapevine situation so I took my chance and booked my tickets. It was probably the best thing I’ve done. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience and means I already know most of the girls a little bit.
"It’s obviously a different vibe now that we’re in the middle of the World Cup compared to pre-season but that’s what you’d expect, everyone is very switched on.
"Training with Wales in July made me focus on my rugby future, it’s what I want to do. I’ve arranged to take a year’s unpaid leave from January so I want to have a real go at playing rugby semi-professionally or professionally in the UK and see where that takes me.
"To even be training with Wales and to have a sniff of getting a chance is something I couldn’t even dream of previously. I’m putting everything into training. I’m in the right place at the right time and I will definitely take any opportunity I get with both hands.
"There’s fantastic strength in depth in the back row and I’ve learned so much from the other players already. I feel my point of difference is speed over the ball and taking some defensive steals, that’s what I love about being a back rower and it would be amazing to have the chance to show what I can do on the field."
