Williamson ready to get stuck in

Rewind to the summer of 2021, and the then 19-year-old enjoyed a 15-minute cameo off the bench as the Warriors hosted Newcastle Falcons in The Famous Grouse Pre-Season Challenge – a memory that remains towards the uppermost in Williamson’s mind a year later.

“That Newcastle game last season was just brilliant,” grinned the second-rower.

“The noise from the fans was brilliant, and my parents were in the crowd to watch – that was pretty special, because obviously we hadn’t had fans in the grounds for a long time prior to that.

“When I came on, it was such an exciting moment. The fans make a massive difference, honestly, you can really feel them behind you.”

Putting pen to paper on a first professional contract with the Warriors was just the latest step in Williamson’s rugby journey, one that started with boyhood club Stirling County at the age of just five.

From the early roots at Bridgehaugh, to combining his studies at the University of Strathclyde with his fledgling professional career, the 6’9” has packed plenty into his rugby career to date.

Having seen fellow academy graduates such as Ollie Smith, Ross Thompson and Murphy Walker make their mark on the senior squad, it’s safe to say that the second-rower is ready to play his part in the youth movement that’s been taking place at Scotstoun in recent seasons.

“It definitely gives you that extra bit of comfort, having guys like Alex [Samuel], Gus [Fraser] and Gregor [Brown] that you’ve played with coming up through the age grades and the academy around you,” added Williamson.

“You can share experiences between you, talk things over, it just makes you feel that bit more relaxed early on really.

“The guys here have all been great ever since I started training here last year, and I can’t wait to get going this season.”

Indeed, Williamson has already targeted the upcoming pre-season fixtures as his re-introduction to the Warrior Nation, beginning with the trip north to take on Worcester Warriors in Inverness.

“I can’t wait, honestly,” he said.

“The match up in Inverness is an occasion we’re all really looking forward to, and hopefully I can stick my hand up in this next block and put myself in the frame to be involved.

“To play for the Warriors as a professional would be such a massive moment for me, and it’s just a really exciting time for both the club and for myself personally.”