Former Wales international Liam Williams has undergone major knee surgery, with the retired full-back now facing weeks on crutches.
Retirement and surgery
The 35-year-old called time on his rugby career in May, having retired from Wales duty at the start of the year. He won 93 caps for Wales, scoring 21 tries and winning two Six Nations titles, while also playing at three Rugby World Cups, touring twice with the British & Irish Lions and winning domestic titles with both the Scarlets and Saracens.
In announcing his retirement, Williams cited his struggles with a knee injury as a factor behind his decision. Four months on, he has now gone under the knife in London.
The Welshman has undergone a high tibial osteotomy (HTO), a knee realignment surgery designed to shift body weight away from a damaged area of the joint and delay the need for a knee replacement. It is commonly performed to correct misalignment in people who, like Williams, are bow legged, a condition in which the knees stay wide apart when a person stands with their feet and ankles together.
Previous refusal of surgery
While the former full-back was told during his career that his bow legs could be fixed, he refused surgery amid warnings that it might mean he couldn't play rugby again. "I’ve been getting stick about my bow legs," he said in 2017. "I had them looked at and they said they’d need to snap them to put them straight but I might never play again. I said, 'No thanks!'"
However, he has now had the surgery, travelling to the private Fortius Clinic in London to undergo the procedure on his right leg. Williams documented the experience in a video shared on his social media pages, posing in a hospital gown before sharing footage of him hopping on one leg after the surgery. He then left the clinic on crutches, with his leg heavily strapped.
Recovery and retirement reflections
The former Wales star will now be on crutches for the next six weeks before undergoing a period of rehabilitation.
Announcing his retirement earlier this year, Williams said: "I've been a professional for 15 years, that takes its toll. I think it's the right time for me to call it a day. I always thought I would go out on my own terms. Having knee trouble for the past few years has taken its toll. The feeling I have is one of immense pride."
