Rhys: I’m not expecting the Welsh fans to welcome me!

Dec 13 2009 by Stuart Rayner, Sunday Sun

His name might be as Welsh as the Valleys, but Middlesbrough’s Rhys Williams will be on a mission to impress World Cup-bound Australia this afternoon, writes Stuart Rayner

RHYS Williams can expect a fair bit of stick when Cardiff City’s fans come to the Riverside today after choosing to become Middlesbrough’s latest Australia international.

But the versatile Perth-born player says the lure of a potential dream summer had nothing to do with his decision to wear the green and gold. As far as Williams is concerned, he is a fair dinkum Aussie.

With any luck, the 21-year-old, pictured left, could finish his breakthrough season on Teesside mixing it with Germany, Serbia and Ghana in the World Cup – then possibly England in round two.

As his name suggests, Williams was eligible to play international football for Wales – as well as England and India. He even has 10 Under-21s caps for the Welsh – something he is expecting to be reminded of by the Cardiff faithful.

But the fact Australia has turned out to be the more glamorous option is irrelevant, he says.

“I’m Australian, full stop,” said the man who moved to Britain to pursue his football career aged 16.

“Wales came along and I don’t have a bad word to say about them. I enjoyed the 10 games I played, but at the end of the day it just wasn’t meant to be.

“As soon as I made the step-up to the first team I just didn’t feel comfortable in the Welsh squad because I am Australian.

“I rang the Australian manager (Pim Verbeek), had a word and asked him to come and watch me. He liked what he saw and it’s gone from there. I hope I get some stick from the Cardiff fans, yeah. It will be good if they do. Hopefully they’ll understand the decision I made but I’m just looking forward to a big game and hoping I’m in the starting line-up.”