Long-serving head coach Richie Williams believes that it is the ‘right time’ for him to mutually part ways with Cambridge Rugby Club.
The surprise news of Williams’ departure came last week, with the Welshman set to step down following the conclusion of the RFU Championship encounter at Bedford Blues on Saturday (28 December).
It will bring the curtain down on an era that has lasted six-and-a-half years, with Williams having been appointed in 2018 as the successor to Ross Stewart.
Richie Williams (wearing hat, arms folded) and the Cambridge players after last weekend’s win over Ampthill. Picture: Chris Fell
He will leave with the club playing at the highest level in its history, but with a squad rebuild likely to be required over the coming months, Williams feels that he no longer has the energy to give the job his all.
“It’s been six-and-a-half years and when coaching in any sport you get to a point where I feel like I can’t bring much more to this group,” he said.
“I’m at peace with the decision and now is the right time step away. The club have got to look at what comes next and who can develop the club a little bit further and make them progress a little bit higher.
Richie Williams will step down after Saturday’s game against Bedford Blues Picture: Chris Fell
“I’ve certainly not got the energy to stay for another two or three seasons, which is what I think it will take with a new group of players and the club will probably have to reset to progress any further. I owe it to myself, my family and the players to step aside.
“It’s been on my mind for the last couple of months. Last season was a real challenge and we were excited having never been at this level before.
“It’s been really difficult coming up against some of the more established teams in this league and people don’t realise the emotional toil that sport and rugby causes.
“I just felt it was the right time and I’m still in charge of a lot of the narrative, which is important.
“We are heading in the right direction but on a personal note it was definitely the right time to step away from the club and let someone else give it a go.”
When Williams arrived at Ellgia Fields in 2018, if Cambridge were to leave National One it looked more likely to be via the trap door rather than up into the second tier of English of rugby.
But a combination of astute coaching and good recruitment saw progress start to be made after a tough first campaign at the helm when Cambridge avoided relegation thanks to a final-day win at the expense of Sale.
And his tenure was capped by the title-winning success of 2022/23, propelling the club into uncharted territory. Victories may have been hard to come by since promotion, but Williams can walk away more than content with the work that he has carried out.
“Winning promotion and winning the league at National One was always something I personally wanted to do, to take a team up to the Championship,” he added.
“It’s been a hell of a journey with lots of ups and downs along the way. It was always the plan to try to get the club to this level and it probably happened quicker than I thought.
“There’s been some challenges along the way, we had to encounter Covid and budget cuts, but I’ve tried to do things with integrity and that’s really important to me.”
Richie signs off at Ellgia Fields with victory
Outgoing head coach Richie Williams attributed Cambridge’s 13-7 victory over Ampthill on Saturday to a combination of ‘fight and determination’.
In what was his last game in charge of Cambridge at Ellgia Fields, Williams watched on as a converted try from Elias Caven and two Louis Grimboldby penalties got his side over the winning line.
And Williams was delighted to see some of the characteristics on show that helped to get the club promoted to the RFU Championship.
“That’s one of the building blocks that we’ve built – we’ve not seen enough of it over the last two seasons,” said the Welshman. “Defensively it was one of our best performances in the Championship.
“Our success two years ago (in getting promoted) was built on that determination and that fight for each other.
“To see that again was fitting because that’s what we’re about as a group, we’ve just not seen it consistently.
“I’d like to think that will provide a bit of a boost for everyone now. If we can fight that hard and put in performances like that then you’re always in the game.”
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