Wales star Liam Williams to quit Japanese club to care for his wife

The 33-year-old full-back is currently signed with Japanese club Kubota Spears, having made the move from Cardiff following the conclusion of last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

Williams’ switch to Kubota Spears saw him miss the 2024 Six Nations, but he made his return to the international stage for Wales in their July fixtures against Australia under head coach Warren Gatland.

During his time in Japan, Williams has often found himself travelling between Japan and Wales, balancing his club commitments with his personal life back home.

According to Mail Online, while Williams has enjoyed his stint in Japan, he is eager to return to Wales, especially as he and his wife Sophie are expecting their first child.

The couple, who have been apart for much of the past year, shared their baby news on Instagram in May.

Sophie posted a video featuring a positive pregnancy test and an ultrasound photo, captioned: "We have some exciting news to share. Baby Williams due November '24! These past few months have been tough and it’s been a journey to say the least but we got there in the end and we cannot wait to meet you!"

The announcement was met with an outpouring of congratulatory messages from teammates. Winger Josh Adams wrote, "Congrats both," while scrum-half Rhys Webb added, "Congratulations both, amazing news."

Other teammates, including Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau, also shared their excitement, with Biggar commenting, "So happy for you both!" and Faletau saying, "Great news! Wishing you all the best."

Below, we take a closer look at some of the players' glamorous partners who will undoubtedly be cheering them on from the sidelines this summer.

Katie is the wife of Jamie George, the hooker for Saracens. The couple tied the knot in 2020 after being in a relationship for six years. Elliot Daly, Jamie's teammate, had the honour of being the best man at their wedding.

Katie is a project manager consultant for KS TWO Consulting Ltd.

Flanker Ethan Roots, originally from New Zealand, is romantically involved with Tessa Boagni, a prominent basketball player representing New Zealand in the women's national team, the Tall Ferns.

Together, they joyfully embrace parenthood with their two sons, Noah and Benji.

A delightful glimpse into their family life was captured in a recent Instagram post, where Tessa and Ethan charmingly posed with their kids, all donned in matching red pajamas for their annual Christmas card. The caption affectionately read, "Roots/Boagni family Christmas card 2023."

Exeter centre Henry Slade married his wife Megan in 2022.

The couple are loving parents to their daughters Olive and Orli. According to The Sun, Megan operates her own clothing business, Olive & Bud, an online fashion store for babies and children based in Devon.

On Instagram, Megan frequently posts charming family updates, featuring heartwarming photos of herself supporting Henry from the sidelines with their two adorable daughters.

Yasmin Hodge-England is in a relationship with Alex Dombrandt, the Harlequins' number eight and an England rugby union player. The couple has explored the world together, visiting destinations such as Paris, New York City, and Mykonos. Following a Six Nations game, Yasmin shared a photo of them on Instagram, captioned: "Forever in awe of you."

Dolling is presently in a relationship with Marcus Smith, the fly-half for Harlequins. The couple has been together since 2019, though the details of how they first met remain undisclosed.

Beth, a model and singer, has graced campaigns for renowned brands such as PrettyLittleThing, Missy Empire, and Rebellious.

Beth is affiliated with M Models in Manchester and Body London, frequently providing glimpses behind the scenes of her fashion shoots on her Instagram story. With a following of 33,000 on Instagram, she shares her experiences under the handle @bethdolling.

Northampton Saints fullback Tommy Freeman is in a relationship with Ashleigh Wood.

One wife and player who won't be present this summer is Elliot and Michelle as the couple are set to have their first child this summer.

The England star married to his long-term girlfriend, Michelle, with Daly popping the question during a romantic holiday. The duo said "I do" in 2021 after a fairytale romance.

One month after tying the knot, Elliot paid tribute to his partner with a romantic post on Instagram which read: "One month ago today, I got to marry my soulmate!

"10 years of knowing each other, 4 years engaged, and now finally married. My Wife".

Although there is only a year between them, the pair met at the £18,618-a-year Whitgift School for boys in Croydon, south London, where Daly was a pupil and she worked as a sports events organiser.