Scrum-half Williams in 'prime' of his career

Tomos Williams joined Gloucester last summer

Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams is in the "prime of his career" says Gloucester's attack coach James Lightfoot Brown, with the club "reaping the rewards" of signing him.

Williams joined the Cherry and Whites from Cardiff last summer and has started 12 out of 13 Premiership matches this season, scoring seven tries and assisting another eight.

The 30-year-old has 64 caps for Wales and also started all five games for his country during the recent Six Nations championship.

"Tomos is a world-class player, anyone that has seen him play this season will understand what I mean by that," Lightfoot Brown told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"He's an incredibly gifted, committed man who is currently in my opinion in the absolute prime of his career, playing some brilliant rugby and bringing other people with him.

"I think that's the important thing, not only is he doing the bits of individual brilliance but for someone in his position it's so important he brings people with him and he's got the respect of the whole group and we're certainly reaping the rewards of signing Tomos Williams."

Gloucester's attack has been transformed this season under Lightfoot Brown, who joined the club in 2023. A scintillating victory against Bristol on Saturday saw them move back into the Premiership top four.

Williams tops the Premiership stats, provided by Oval Insights, for the most passes in the league this season (762), while he is second overall for most metres kicked (3,858), and third for most line breaks (20) and most offloads (18).

Against the Bears he provided two try assists including a moment of brilliant skill to jump and collect a ball one-handed, before a no-look pass to Seb Atkinson to score.

"[He's] a very committed individual. He'll be the last one out here practicing his kicking, practicing the bits you see at the weekend," Lightfoot Brown said.

"You bring a world-class player into your environment and I think you're going to reap the benefits of that, everyone is.

"Young players, players in the same position, they're all improving without question."

'A top-level nine is well-rounded' - Englefield

Team-mate and fellow number nine Caolan Englefield said training alongside Williams this season has been "bettering" his own game.

The 25-year-old signed a new deal with the club in January and is second to Williams in the Gloucester pecking order, with all but one of his Premiership appearances this season coming from the replacements' bench.

"He's one of if not the best scrum-halves in the Prem this year and he's consistently done it week in week out," Englefield said.

"Being able to watch him every day, train and have conversations with him is only bettering my game and I've seen the improvements already.

"I think I've probably been a bit naive in the past as to what my game looks like and how I've been a bit weak in some areas but him coming in has made me realise that if you want to be a top-level nine you've got to be well rounded in all facets of the game."