THE JOURNEY from Worcester to Leicester is a well-trodden path and as previous players who have made the trip have shown it does not come without its hazards.
Graham Kitchener and Miles Benjamin are two which have struggled to fulfil their international ambitions since making the switch from Sixways to Welford Road.
But Mike Williams, who arrives at Leicester Tigers in the summer, insisted he was ready to meet the challenges head on as he strives to make his dream of playing for England come true.
“It is a very exciting move for me,” he said. “Leicester have been in the Premiership final for ten years in a row bar last year, so they are one of the better clubs in Europe and I am very grateful and honoured to be joining a club like that.
“At a place like Leicester you’ve got to try and adapt to their level as quick as you can which is a very big thing for me as I want to improve as a player and as an individual, so I am not worried about it.
“I just see it as a challenge.”
The 23-year-old, who left South Africa to join Worcester in 2013, said he had bought it into Dean Ryan’s long-term vision and saw himself playing a big part in the club’s future.
But the Zimbabwean-born forward admitted a move to the nine-time Premiership champions was too big of an opportunity to turn down.
“Having not been able to get a South African citizenship it was nice for me to get to the UK and start off with a clean slate,” he said.
“I was lucky enough that Dean Ryan and the coaching staff backed me from the beginning and they have got me to the point where bigger clubs like Leicester can see me, so I have to thank them for that.
“I have grown a lot in the last two years and I have made some amazing friends here and I am very close to the coaching staff, so it was a very hard decision for me to make.
“But I do have very big international ambitions. I am not saying that I am going to play for England one day, but I would like to give it the best shot possible and I feel a club like Leicester can do that for me.”
Williams said he was pleased to have not “burned any bridges” with director of rugby Dean Ryan, who has offered him the chance to return to Worcester.
And the talented flanker, who is close to making his 50th appearance for the club, said he was now determined to return his current employers to the top flight.
“Last season was very tough,” he added. “But so far this year has been amazing as we have won every game, so the highlight of my career would be to help Worcester back into the Premiership and probably play against them next year.”