JASON Williams, Wales' record league points scorer, has called an end to his rugby career at the relatively young age of 33 - and is to return to playing football, writes Paul Tully.
Williams, scorer of 3,225 league points in 15 seasons as a senior after winning Wales Youth caps in 1991 and under-21 caps in 1992 and 1993, played his last Welsh Premier Division game for Ebbw Vale against Llanelli, contributing eleven points.
But the Nantyglo-based outside half, who has also played for Newport, Pontypool, Newbridge, Abertillery and Brynmawr, stressed his decision to quit had nothing to do with the coaching changes at Eugene Cross Park.
Englishman Alex Codling has replaced Williams' friend Byron Hayward, still second behind him in the league points scoring list with 2,575, as head coach.
"It is nothing to do with the club and I have nothing against anyone there and I would like to thank supporters who have been superb to me," he said.
"I think Alex Codling is a very genuine guy who will be good for the club.
"The main reasons are work (he's working ten hours a day as a pipe layer) and I have two young sons (Ellis, 7 and Jake, 1) and want to spend more time time with them.
"Ellis is getting into football now and playing for a little team and I can't ask my wife to do everything. Family life comes first.
"I was a bit shocked by the events at Ebbw Vale because Byron is a good friend and a very honest guy and for the first time in my career I was getting one-to-one coaching.
"But that has had nothing to do with my decision. Basically, I have had a feed full of rugby. I have been struggling to get to training and have had a bad run of niggling injuries which prevented me from playing regularly."
So Williams has signed for Govilon AFC and will play football in the Gwent Central League. "The team manager is my boss at work and he has a team of youngsters and needs someone with a bit of weight," he added.
"I played youth soccer as a striker and played against (Wales international) Nathan Blake for Ebbw Vale and District when he was with Ringland Youth (Newport), but now I am aiming to play in central midfield.
"It'll be interesting when we play Clydach because my brother Matthew plays for them and says he's going to drop into their second team to score seven goals. I told him he won't, but he may have seven stitches!"
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