By David Parsons
Teddy Williams is hoping to round off a great week by picking up his first win on French soil when he leads Cardiff into their third-round clash in the EPCR Challenge Cup against Perpignan.
The 24-year-old Welsh international second row confirmed on Thursday that he had signed an extension to his contract with the Arms Park club and was immediately made captain for the trip to France.
Cardiff were pipped by Lyon in Round 1 and Williams was also in the teams that went to Brive, Racing 92 and Toulouse and lost in previous European trips.
Add in 32-10 defeat to the French in Vannes in the 2019 U20 Six Nations championship and it is easy to see why France hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for him.
But having built up some festive momentum with a win over the Dragons and home draw with the Ospreys – Cardiff are currently third in the BKT United Rugby Championship table – the time is about right for Williams to break his duck.
“I always enjoy going to France to play and the atmosphere is great. I’ve yet to win there, but we came close to victory in Lyon,” said Williams.
With head coach Matt Sherratt seeking six of seven more points over the games in Perpigan and at home against Connacht to secure a home draw in the Round of 16, a bonus-point win at Stade Aime Giral would be just the boost they need to push their claims to go deep into a tournament that concludes with a final at Principality Stadium in May.
Williams’ father, Owain, played in the inaugural Heineken Cup Final with Cardiff at the old National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park, back in 1996. If son Teddy could follow in his footsteps 29 years later, it would be amazing.
But for now, Williams jnr is just happy to have agreed a new deal that will keep him at the Arms Park for the foreseeable future.
“This is the right place for me at the moment. I feel I am getting better, and this is a place at which I can continue to improve,” he said.
“I hope the team can become more successful and play in more knock-out games in the future. I’ve always felt comfortable playing at Cardiff, and it feels like I’m running out with my mates.
“It’s definitely a goal of mine to kick on and play more international rugby. I’m playing some of my best rugby at the moment and I just what to be as consistent as possible and to keep on improving.
“We just need to maximise the potential we have at the club, and you definitely get more confidence with the more games you play at this level.”
Williams is one of a number of Cardiff players who will be hoping to get the nod from Warren Gatland when he names his Six Nations squad. A number of them will be on view in Perpignan, although among the big names missing will be Taulupe Faletau and Josh Adams.
Sherratt has made nine changes from the team that faced the Ospreys. New signing Regan Grace gets an immediate call-up to play on the wing as one of six changes behind the scrum, while Rhys Barrett gets his first start in the front row.
Cardiff Move To Third In URC Table And Matt Sherratt Is A Happy Man
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