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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Wales star signs new deal after hectic year that saw him unemployed before Six Nations recall

Owen Williams has signed a new deal with the Ospreys to complete a stunning turnaround that saw him earn a Wales recall after joining the club mid-season.

The 31-year-old fly-half had been without a job after his former club Worcester Warriors went bust, but a deal with the Ospreys as injury cover in December offered him a return to Wales nearly a decade after leaving the Scarlets.

Thrown straight into the Ospreys' Champions Cup campaign, he started in impressive victories over French and English champions Montpellier and Leicester Tigers to send Toby Booth's side into the knockout stages.

That form saw Williams recalled by Warren Gatland for Wales' Six Nations campaign, winning his first cap since 2017 as he started against Italy and England.

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With Wales outside-half Gareth Anscombe leaving the Ospreys and Stephen Myler retiring, Williams will now head into next season as the clear first-choice at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Speaking about his new deal, Williams said: “It’s great to be signing a new deal with the Ospreys. I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve spent here so far and I'm excited to see what we can achieve together in the future.

“The Ospreys are a club that truly believes in its culture and values, and I am fully committed to upholding those standards on and off the field wherever I can.

“This is my home region, I can't wait to get back to work and push ourselves to be the best team that we can be."

Ospreys head coach Booth added: "I'm delighted that Owen has decided to re-sign with us. He's an incredibly talented player who brings invaluable experience to our squad.

“Owen has been a key part of our team this season, and I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to develop and thrive with us moving forward.

“He's a consummate professional on and off the pitch, and he sets a great example for the younger players in our squad. His ability to manage games and dictate the pace of play has been instrumental for the team this year.”

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