Select Edition

Select Edition

Northern
Southern
Global
NZ
France

English club target Liam Williams for Premiership return

By Neil Fissler
Liam Williams of Wales celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at AAMI Park on July 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Saracens have inquired about re-signing Wales and Lions star Liam Williams as they seek an injury replacement for injured veteran star Alex Goode, who could be out of action for the next three months.

Saracens, fourth in the Premiership table, released a statement earlier this week stating that Goode would be out of action for between 10 and 12 weeks after undergoing an operation on a quad injury.

Goode, 36, picked up in the warm-up before a Premiership game against Leicester Tigers and Mark McCall has been looking to see who might be available to provide short-term injury cover.

Swansea-born Williams, 33, has won 92 caps for his country and another six for the Lions on the 2017 trip to New Zealand and the 2021 tour to South Africa. He is highly regarded in North London.

He played 31 games for Saracens between 2017 and 2019, either side of spells with the Scarlets winning Premiership and European titles before returning to South Wales when his three-year contract ended.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saracens over the past three seasons. The environment has undoubtedly developed me as a player. I am grateful for the support I’ve had from the players, management and supporters,” he said Williams is due to return to Kubota Spears next month to prepare for the start of the new Japan Rugby League One, which they kick off against Toyota Verblitz on December 22nd.

He moved to Japan after playing in his third World Cup and was linked with a return to Wales in September when the Dragons were rumoured to have been interested in signing him, but the move failed to materialise.

Sarries - who finished fourth last season - are keen to get a deal done for their return to Gallagher Premiership action against bottom-of-the-table Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park next Friday evening.