Ex-Wales and Lions fullback retires
NEWS: Liam Williams has brought the curtain down on his professional career, announcing his retirement from club rugby after already stepping away from international duty earlier this year.
The 93-cap Wales star confirmed the decision on social media, revealing that a persistent knee injury had ultimately forced his hand after 15 years in the professional game.
“Grateful for every memory, and a thank you to everyone who backed me along the way,” Williams wrote. “A special journey, but time to hang up the boots. On to the next chapter.”
Equally comfortable at fullback and on the wing, Williams scored 21 tries for Wales and played a key role in two Six Nations triumphs, including the 2019 Grand Slam.
He also featured prominently for the British and Irish Lions, touring New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, where he earned five Test caps.
Nicknamed ‘Sanjay’, his rise to the top of the game was anything but conventional. Williams famously balanced amateur rugby with work as a scaffolder in the Port Talbot steelworks before breaking through professionally with Scarlets.
He went on to enjoy spells with Saracens, Cardiff, Japan’s Kubota Spears, and Newcastle, building a reputation as a fearless, high-impact back with a sharp attacking instinct.
Reflecting on his decision in a video message, Williams admitted the physical demands of the game had caught up with him. “I’ve been a professional for 15 years, that takes its toll,” he said.
“I always thought I would go out on my own terms, but the knee trouble over the past few years has made it the right time.”
Williams also paid tribute to influential figures in his career, including former Wales head coach Warren Gatland, as he closed the chapter on a journey that took him from the steelworks to the very top of the international game.
