The 25-year-old Amman United flier will make his debut for the Scarlets Regional Amateur team against the Dragons at Blackwood’s Glan-yr-Afon Park ground on Tuesday night (7.30pm) when the new, five team tournament gets underway. All four Regions will be taking part and there will also be a side from north Wales, playing under the name of Gogledd. Players are selected from those teams in each region playing in the ASDA Leagues from Divisions 1 to 5 and are 25 or younger.
Williams, who plays in ASDA League 3 West, scored 40 tries for his club last season and is very much in the same mould as his brother. But while Shane went on to play for Neath, the Ospreys, Wales and the British & Irish Lions after being discovered playing for his home town team, Dean failed to make the grade when he joined Neath U21. Now he, along with dozens of other highly talented and determined players, will get a second chance to shine in the new Regional Amateur system. Once the tournament has been completed a Wales Clubs XV will be chosen.
“I didn’t make the most of the opportunity I had when I went to Neath and joined their Under 21 squad. I should have gone on to play at a higher grade, but I lost interest,” said Dean. “I drifted back to Amman United because I wanted to play for fun and play with my mates. I’m sure there are a lot of players like me who often dream of what might have been, but this new tournament, and the introduction of the Wales Clubs XV, have given us something new to aim for.
“It has made me train harder, think again about what it would take to play at a higher level and dream about playing for a Welsh international team. I’m really looking forward to making my debut for the Scarlets Regional Amateur team and I’m going to give it a real go.”
While the Scarlets Amateur travel to the Dragons Amateur for the opening round of matches on Tuesday 8th November 2005, Gogledd Amateur host the Ospreys Amateur at Ruthin (7.30pm). There are two more rounds in November – Gogledd Amateur v Scarlets Amateur (Llanidloes) and Ospreys Amateur v Blues Amateur (Dunvant) on 22nd November 2005 and Dragons Amateur v Ospreys Amateur (Blackwood) and Blues Amateur v Gogledd Amateur (Abercynon) on 29th November – and the tournament returns during the RBS Six Nations window with three more rounds in February and four in March.
National Community Rugby Manager Phil John is currently looking at setting up the first international fixture for the new Wales Clubs XV selected in April at the end of the tournament.
“This is a great idea and I’m sure there will be a handful or more of players who will come right through to the Premiership and then Regional levels in this way,” said Ospreys and Wales wing Shane Williams. “I was picked up by Neath through luck when I was playing for Amman United. Ron Waldron came to watch me and that paved the way for me to go into top level rugby.
“This is a better way for the Premiership and Regional coaches to examine the rich vein of talent that exists in the lower leagues. I still get involved in the odd training session with Amman United and I watch as many games of theirs as I can. So I know first-hand just how much talent there is in the ASDA Leagues. As for Dean, he certainly knows his way to the try line and is is very strong in defence.
“He knows he could have played at a higher level and this new competition is going to give him another chance to put himsefl in front of the Premiership and Regional coaches. I know he’s excited about the prospect and I’m sure there will be hundreds of players dreaming of winning a coveted Welsh cap at the end of the season.”
Regional Community Championships 2005-2006
Round 1: 8th November 2005
Dragons v Scarlets (Blackwood)
Gogledd v Ospreys (Ruthin)
Round 2: 22nd November2005
Gogledd v Scarlets (Llanidloes)
Ospreys v Blues (Dunvant)
Round 3: 29th November 2005
Dragons v Ospreys (Blackwood)
Blues v Gogledd (Abercynon)
Round 4: 7th February 2006
Gogledd v Dragons (Bangor)
Scarlets v Blues (TBC)
Round 5: 14th February 2006
Blues v Dragons (Penarth)
Ospreys v Scarlets (Aberavon)
Round 6: 21st February 2006
Scarlets v Dragons (TBC)
Ospreys v Gogledd (Ystadgynlais)
Round 7: 7 March 2006
Scarlets v Gogledd (Llandovery)
Blues v Ospreys (Pentyrch)
Round 8: 14 March 2006
Ospreys v Dragons (Neath)
Gogledd v Blues (Llanidloes)
Round 9: 21st March 2006
Dragons v Gogledd (Abergavenny)
Blues v Scarlets (Rumney)
Round 10: 28th March 2006
Dragons v Blues (Fleur de Lys)
Scarlets v Ospreys (TBC)
