Williams has not given up on international rugby, indicating he is free for the summer tour in Australia, if required, as he looks to add to his 89 Wales caps.
“I’m still available,” said Williams.
“I will always want to put that famous red jersey on for as long as I am playing.
“I did speak to Gats just before I left about going on the summer tour.
“He said he is going to be looking for some of the youngsters, which is what’s happened in this Six Nations squad, and that is good for Wales.
“If any other players get injured and I am needed this summer, I will speak to him again.”
Having also played in five British and Irish Lions Tests against New Zealand and South Africa, Williams has not given up hope of completing a clean sweep by touring Australia 2025.
It is a squad which will be led by Ireland boss Andy Farrell who was the Lions defence coach in 2013 and 2017.
“I would still like to go,” said Williams.
“I don’t personally think I would make a Test team at this moment in time with guys in my position like Freddie Steward and Hugo Keenan, who are probably two of the best at the moment.
“Who says I couldn’t go and play in the midweek and train against the boys, and help them prepare for the for the big games? You need quite a big squad.
“I worked well with Andy in New Zealand in 2017. So it would be a dream to play again for the Lions whether that’s in midweek, or maybe get another Test. We’ll see. I think it also depends if I play for Wales.”
You sense Williams is hoping his most recent international memory does not end up being his last following World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in Marseille in October 2023.
“It was tough to take, I still think about it,” said Williams.
“We should never have lost that game. I don’t regret anything but wish things had turned different.
“Saying that, we were pretty banged up and we might have struggled to field a side the following week against New Zealand.”
Williams was one of the players injured and had a knee operation which delayed his Japan club debut.
He will spend two seasons in Japan and is settling into his new life where he shares lifts to training with former New Zealand hooker Dane Coles and Australia fly-half Bernard Foley.
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