Ben Gets His Head Down For A Strong Finish

by Brian Ellis Wednesday 24 April 2013

Ben Williams (10) pictured in action for Bath A

BATH centre Ben Williams knows it's not just how you start, it's how you finish in professional rugby.

And the 23-year-old is hoping a head injury suffered in January won't cause a year of real achievement on the pitch to fizzle out in anti-climax in the grandstand.

Williams is desperate to win back his place in the Bath starting line-up after missing almost two months of action. But with life as a centre at The Rec competitive to say the least - and only likely to get even more intense next term with the arrival of hot prospect Jonathan Joseph from London Irish“ the former England junior is straining at the leash to end his landmark season on the field.

"Overall the past year has been massively positive for me," he told Talking Rugby Union. "Getting as much game time as I did at the start of the season, playing well and playing myself into a new contract was brilliant.

"To be fair I've been pretty blessed with the amount of rugby I played up until I got injured. I had a good run of games, but then I got myself knocked out against Exeter and I've just been trying to get back from that really.

"Injuries are part and parcel of professional sport and you have to accept you're going to get hurt sometimes. They tend to knock you back a bit, but I think I'm big enough and strong enough to get over them and hopefully come back stronger. I've just got back fit and got back into it and I need to have a strong push now and get some more games before the end of the season.

Dorset-born Williams joined Bath Academy after A-levels in 2007, having represented England at U-16 and U18 levels. He made his first team debut in the LV=Cup against Saracens in 2009 and took his Premiership bow two weeks after that against Worcester. His efforts were rewarded just three months ago when he signed an extension to his contract at the club.

Modestly he puts down his progress to "fantastic" coaching staff and team-mates. "There are some great players in the centre positions to learn from," he said. "The likes of Matt Banahan, Danny Hipkiss are vastly experienced guys. And Olly (Barkley) before he left was terrific too.

"As a young player in that sort of company you are always learning every day. They are great people to have around and great role models. They have all helped me massively.

"I've been playing a lot at 12 this season, although I'm quite comfortable at outside centre too. I've enjoyed playing inside because you are a bit closer to the action and you get to make a few more tackles and stuff like that."

It may be five years since Williams pulled on an England shirt, but he has dreams of doing it again in the senior side "one day."

"Hopefully, eventually, step by step I would like to get there, he said. "But the main thing for me at the moment has to be getting back into the Bath side, playing well for my club and continuing to learn. I'm a great believer that if you work hard those sort of things can come off the back of that.

"I've had some success this season with the number of games I have played for the first team. There are still a few games to go and, hopefully, I can get back out there and pick up where I left off."

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Ben Gets His Head Down For A Strong Finish

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