Liam Williams announcement imminent as Welsh rugby and Scarlets to get huge boost

The fans' favourite has been away with Saracens since 2017 and sidelined by injury for four months

Wales star Liam Williams could be back on the regional rugby scene within a matter of weeks.

The Scarlets confirmed before Christmas that the Lions Test full-back would be severing his association with Saracens and rejoining them. And troubled Sarries, who will play in the English championship next season after being relegated over salary-cap breaches, subsequently announced that Williams may have already played his last game for them.

But red-tape has held up his return to the regional scene.

Hopes are high, though, that the 28-year-old will be able to resume in west Wales as soon as the Six Nations is over.

The insurance issues that have delayed Williams' release from Saracens as he strives to recover from long-term injury are close to being resolved and one of European rugby’s star turns in 2019 could be available for the fourth round of the Six Nations, with Wales facing England at Twickenham.

It would set up the fearless former scaffolder to resume with the Scarlets probably some time next month.

He has been off limits since picking up an ankle injury in training before World Cup semi-final against South Africa last October, but he is nearing a return to play.

Whether Wales would plunge him straight back into the fray against England is unclear, and in his absence Leigh Halfpenny has performed well at full-back, with his display against Italy outstanding.

But as Williams proved for Saracens last season, he can also be devastatingly effective on the wing, where the 62-cap player has started 25 times for his country.

The Scarlets will be overjoyed to see him back in their colours, whether lining up out wide or at the back. In Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl, Steff Evans, Ryan Conbeer, Tom Prydie and Corey Baldwin, the Llanelli-based region have a number of other high-class back-three men but will feel they can potentially keep them all fresh by rotating them.

Whatever, fans’ favourite Williams is a gem of a signing and the Scarlets have appreciated his worth ever since the day when the then Llanelli RFC head of rugby Anthony Buchanan went to watch Waunarlwydd in a Tovali Cup match.

"Anthony came back saying this kid was the best player on the field," Williams' former Llanelli coach Kevin George later told WalesOnline.

“Liam was a youth player then playing for Waunarlwydd seniors.

“We invited him down but were a bit reluctant to put him on the pitch early doors, because he looked as if he might break.

“But we played up in Pontypridd and one of their guys was going for the corner. Liam just absolutely put him in the stand — cut him in half and he went sideways.

“He had this determination about him and a power that belied his frame.”

Little wonder why his return is going to please a lot of people.