The ‘calm’ navy officer chosen to steer Wales at Rugby World Cup

Wales’ preparation for the Rugby World Cup was hardly straightforward.

Pretty choppy waters have resulted from a contracts row, a change of coach, and then a Six Nations whitewash.

Making an ex-navy officer your captain makes perfect sense when you’re trying to steady the ship.

When Sean Lynn opted to replace Hannah Jones as skipper ahead of the tournament in England next month, Kate Williams wasn’t a clear choice for many.

However, it was soon obvious why the former Gloucester-Hartpury coach nodded to the player he oversaw for two years at the PWR champions after being chosen to lead the side as co-captains alongside bubbly backrower Alex Callender.

Which figures were given to her three years ago while on patrol in the Pacific on the HMNZS Wellington’s bridge.

As a warfare officer in the New Zealand navy, Sub-Lieutenant Williams ensured the vessel maintained its course by following the navigation’s instructions.

The 25-year-old says, “I think my experience from that is something I’ve really been able to draw on.” I learned a lot of leadership skills and other things from that, which I’m finding to be kind of a triad with the team now.

Before switching sides, Williams served five years in the navy.

She initially decided to give herself the chance to fulfill her rugby dreams by signing up for a year’s secondment.

Although she still calls the navy her “plan B,” her new contract and two PWR titles at the Circus, including a player of the year last term and a try in this year’s final win over Saracens, suggest she might not need it.

After being named co-captain of Wales, Williams jokes, “I think the decision has been justified now.” The tour will begin with a two-test tour of Australia, where Wales will prepare for the World Cup with games against the Wallaroos.

Williams, who was born in Swansea but raised there from the age of 4, claims she was a Welsh person from birth and played rugby in Wales from the beginning, a step up from her parents’.

Before Wales became aware of her ambitions and eligibility, there were games for North Harbour in the NPC, for Auckland’s Blues in their first ever game, and for the Defence Ferns.

Following a phone call from then-Coach Ioan Cunningham in the barracks, a call-up for an injury cover call-up for the final World Cup was followed by a training invitation.

She claims that having won her first cap at the 2023 Six Nations, “I didn’t think I would be there when I first came over.” Every second of it has been enjoyable to me. My dream was to play for Wales, which is a huge honor.

I gave myself a year, and it eventually doubled, but it’s just really taken off. It was a huge deal to get a contract in Wales. It gave me the freedom to pursue my true love.

When Wales play Scotland in Salford on August 23, they’ll be monitoring her progress from a distance, having frequently sent messages from far-off places in the ocean when Williams has been in action.

Williams admits she’s already been comparing notes with her fellow former officers in order to compare notes because fitness was something Lynn was eager to work on during a long, hot summer pre-tournament camp.

Being in the mess at lunchtime, it all seemed like a case of “I’ve been here before!” We were with the Royal Welsh Regiment a few weeks ago. ‘, “she says.

Imagine if you had to return to basic training and complete it all over again, I was telling my friends.

It was difficult, and because you never know when a game session will end, you just had to hold on for some of it, persevering, and digging deep inside yourself.

Williams acknowledges that Merthyr Mawr’s sand dunes were particularly difficult, pointing to her red hair for added sympathy in the sun-moulding up and down hills repeatedly.

We learned a lot from it as a team, she continues. It was quite funny being there. You can look to your left, look to your right, and see people who have experienced it with you when you’re in the dark in a game.

Williams has been successful in transferring knowledge and experience, while Wales will look to do the same when they face Australia on Saturday (05.00BST) and advance to the World Cup.