Canada bring back retired Williams

Back in Action: Morgan Williams

Morgan Williams, who hung up his boots after leading Canada at the Rugby World Cup last year, will be back in action at the USA Sevens as one of three changes forced on coach Shane Thompson.

Williams, 31, last played Sevens for Canada at the 2006 Commonwealth Games but is no stranger to the IRB Sevens World Series.

His experience was a key element in the decision to coax him out of retirement to join Nathan Hirayama and Rob Turk as additions to the squad that lost to the USA in the Shield semi-finals in Wellington last weekend.

"There were a lot of factors, including the various players' school commitments and availability to travel," said Geraint John, Rugby Canada's High Performance Director.

"But more importantly we needed someone with experience, who had worked with the players and worked out with the players as well, and with all that in mind the decision was reached to coax Morgan off the retirement couch and back onto the field."

Turk and Hirayama were both unable to travel to Wellington, but return to the Canada squad after Ben Grant suffered a fractured fibula against Samoa and Sean-Michael Stephen's back injury did not respond to treatment.

The other player to miss out is Harry Jones, who links up with Canada's Under-20 team ahead of their Freedom Cup meeting with the USA in Florida on 15-16 February.

"I am pretty comfortable with the decision," admitted Williams.

"I have been training a lot with the various squads, so fitness is fine, and as a skills coach I have probably been doing more passing and catching with all the age grades, so I am feeling pretty sharp.

"I feel really good, so this will be a good fit."

The final squads of the 16 teams participating in the USA Sevens at PETCO Park this weekend are yet to be announced.