Rugby

Shoulder injury means Williams ends Ulster career early

A shoulder injury has ended Nick Williams' Ulster career early. The popular New Zealander will join Cardiff Blues in the summer.
A shoulder injury has ended Nick Williams' Ulster career early. The popular New Zealander will join Cardiff Blues in the summer. A shoulder injury has ended Nick Williams' Ulster career early. The popular New Zealander will join Cardiff Blues in the summer.

FANS’ favourite Nick Williams has played his last game for Ulster.

The hugely popular New Zealand born number 8 will leave the Kingspan Stadium this summer for Cardiff Blues after four years with Ulster.

A rampaging ball-carrier, he was named as the Pro12 player of the season in his first campaign with the Irish province.

He stated his desire to finish on a high with some silverware and while the team could still achieve it if they hold on to their top four place over the next few weeks, he will play no further part in the campaign.

Williams has been unsuccessful in recovering from the shoulder injury which has ruled him out since the 27-17 defeat in Glasgow, and will undergo surgery later this week to repair a labral tear.

That will rule him out for the rest of the season, which continues with a crunch Interprovincial tie with Leinster on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Wiehahn Herbst has begun to reintegrate into team training sessions and the medical team is confident that he will be available for selection within the next two weeks.

Second row Alan O’Connor has undergone surgery on a dislocated shoulder that will rule him out for the rest of the season, while Ruairdhi Murphy is also out until the start of next season with a finger injury.

Sammy Arnold is continuing to rehab his hamstring injury but he is unlikely to be available for the remainder of the campaign.

Tommy Bowe experienced a mild knee reaction following the recent game against Zebre and he will be unavailable for selection this week.

Both Louis Ludik and Paul Rowley remain unavailable for selection as they continue to rehab their respective groin and knee injuries.

Ian Humphreys has seen a spinal specialist and had a recent injection for his ongoing back injury. He continues to rehab for this injury.

Dan Tuohy (ankle), Peter Nelson and Willie Faloon (both midfoot) continue to rehab their respective season-ending injuries.