Quitting Williams dubbed Ospreys ‘legend’

Apr 22 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

BARRY WILLIAMS has been dubbed the “first Ospreys legend” after being forced to hang up his playing boots through injury, writes Andy Howell.

The former Wales and British Lions hooker gave up his brave battle to recover from shoulder and hip injuries, which have seen him operated on a total of three times in the last year.

He said: “It’s a very sad day for me, it’s one that all professional sportsmen dread, but unfortunately it seems that now is the appropriate time to hang up my boots.

“My body has been through a hell of a lot during my playing career and the wear and tear is finally catching up with me. I simply can’t do another season.

“I have another year left on my career so I could have just sat on that and taken the wages for another 12 months but that goes against everything I believe in.

“I don’t think I would be able to look people in the eye if I was doing that, so I went to speak to Mike Cuddy [Ospreys joint managing director] and was honest about the whole situation.

“I’ve enjoyed a fantastic career with plenty of highs that I’ll be able to look back on, but undoubtedly, it’s been an honour to have led the Ospreys during the early days.

“The future for the region looks very positive and the next generation of Ospreys is already coming through so I don’t think the old man will be missed!”

The likeable and straight-talking Williams, who is also a useful cricketer, starred for Llandovery, Neath, Richmond, Bristol and the Ospreys.

He was capped 24 times by Wales between 1996 and 2002, scoring five tries for his country.

Williams was in the 1997 British Lions squad that came back from South Africa triumphant after winning the Test series with the-then world champions by a 2-1 margin.

He was one of the first names recruited by the Ospreys when they were formed in the summer of 2003 and took over the captaincy of the region midway through the first season following the shock retirement of Wales and Lions legend Scott Gibbs.

Williams, 34, is the only player to have made 100 appearances for the region.

In November 2006, he was part of the side that claimed an historic victory over Australia at the Liberty Stadium, scoring the Ospreys’ first try in a famous 24-16 win. Injuries meant he only played once more for them.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones paid tribute to Williams, saying: “Barry’s retirement is a sad loss to the Ospreys and to Welsh rugby in general.

“In the short history of the region, Barry thoroughly deserves to be recognised as the first Ospreys legend, not only as the first player to reach 100 appearances, but also for the inspirational way that he captained the Ospreys when we were in our embryonic stage.

“When things were getting tough and we weren’t faring too well, Barry stood up to be counted and led by example, on and off the pitch.”

Williams underwent surgery on a shoulder injury last summer, returning to action in the early stages of the current campaign.

But he suffered a hip injury that required keyhole surgery in January, ruling him out of action for the season.

He suffered a further blow earlier this month when he was forced to undergo a second shoulder operation.