Wales international set for emotional farewell in Finale

Friday, 29 May 2026 at 12:27

byHarry Tovey

When Welsh rugby supporters learnt who their nation would face in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, flashbacks of the 2015 instalment brought back joyous memories.

It was the same story when Lloyd Williams announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2026/27 season. The scrum-half was one of Wales' main protagonists in one of their most famous victories against England.

” concluded Williams.

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In that tournament nearly 11 years ago, Wales knocked England out of their home World Cup dramatically, 28-25 in Twickenham.

That contest saw Wales overcome a 10-point deficit, and, having been forced onto the wing due to injuries, scrum-half Williams provided a brilliantly timed cross-field kick that led to fellow scrum-half Gareth Davies scoring in front of the posts.

But on Sunday afternoon, the 36-year-old will aim to bow out in style as Worcester Warriors face Bedford Blues in the Elior Champ Rugby final at Goldington Road.

Speaking on the Champ Rugby website, Williams, who’s played his part in the Warriors’ run to the play-off final, admitted that training was becoming more difficult.

“Training every day was just becoming quite tough and trying to maintain that physical standard that I’ve loved having,” said Williams.

“I found that I took the injuries quite hard. I was trying to cope with them.

“There were a few signs, and I felt like I should be starting to listen to my body.

“I’d also finished my insurance broking exams, and I was offered a role. I felt like it was the right time to jump at that and face a new challenge.

“I’ve been very lucky. I’ve done rugby since I was 17, and I just thought now was the time for me to take on a new challenge and get cracking with it.”

To say it’s remarkable that Worcester has made it this far in the Champ would be an understatement. When Williams and everyone else included in this new Warriors side turned up in August, playing in a final would have been the last thing on their minds.

However, the Sixways Stadium side is one win away from lifting silverware. “Everyone’s bought in and given themselves to the club, which is great, and everyone’s pulling in the same direction, which makes things a lot easier,” continued Williams.

“I think naturally, because of my position and my experience, I’ve tried helping in ways that I can. There’s such a talented group of players here, and, more importantly, great people.

“We’ve just gelled quite quickly, and credit to the group and Matt Everard really for bringing us all together and shaping things in the right way for things to grow.

“It takes teams years to find out their identity. We had an idea of how we’d like to play, and we had foundations that we’d like to build our style on. You are kind of figuring it out as you go, a little bit, because everyone’s got different strengths.

“It was a bit of a unique beginning because, although you want to win, I think the main thing was we wanted to find a performance that suited us and that can deliver performances good enough to win rugby matches.”

After qualifying for the final so dramatically but at the same time so brilliantly against Ealing Trailfinders, Williams, alongside a resurgent Warriors side, can cap off his career in the most outstanding way possible.

“To be able to play in a final in whatever stage of your career is really special.

"I look back over my career, and the years I remember are the ones I had things to play for, and we’ve certainly got that this weekend.

“I don’t think a club has ever come back and won the league that year, so to be able to do that would be seriously special, not just for the group but for Worcester,