Teddy Williams is thrilled to be back in the Wales squad and is determined to carry his Cardiff form onto the international stage.

The second-row has hit the ground running this season and been a standout performer for the Blue & Blacks.

He has been rewarded for that form with a place in Steve Tandy’s Nations Championship squad and he is eager to kick on. Having spent the majority of last season on the sidelines with a dislocated foot, he returned to action with Wales in the summer and wants more. 

Williams said: “It’s amazing, it’s always massive privilege. I’m just chuffed to be a part of it and hopefully I can really add some value to this campaign.

“I was thrilled to be a part of the summer. That was great for me to get back playing some rugby and get back in with the national team.

“It’s been nice for me to have a decent start to the season and hopefully I can take some form into this autumn campaign.

“I just try and do my job, on both sides of the ball you’ve got to bring stuff to the party. Typically, I’ve always tried to have many involvements in the game and I understand that’s coming through with my tackle count.”

Williams is one of five second-rows in the Wales squad and he believes competition is driving standards and performances.

He continued: “I’ve just got to make sure that every session I’m showing what I can bring to the party. Hopefully I’ve done that in my performances this season. 

“But at the end of the day there’s some real good players here, a lot of which I’ve worked with in the past. We’ve all got a really good relationship but we’re all desperate to play. There’s no hiding that. That naturally drives competition and hopefully whoever the lucky two are who get picked to start, the other three have prepped them to the best of their abilities.”

Williams is one of seven Cardiff stars named in the Wales squad with others – namely Keiron Assiratti, Taulupe Faletau, Ben Thomas and Jacob Beetham – missing out due to injury. 

With the Blue & Blacks finishing last season as the strongest of the Welsh professional clubs, Williams has been happy with the progress and he believes the likes of uncapped loose-head Rhys Barrett are testament to the good work being done.

He added: “Last year there was some real good stuff from Cardiff and obviously making that play-off, you can see a lot of the boys are really flourishing. 

“The likes of Alex Mann really stepped up for us last year, he was awesome and now seeing some of his form coming into the international game.

“Then even the likes of Rhys Barrett and these guys now getting opportunities to come up, it’s testament to the programme they’ve put together at Cardiff really.”