All Blacks: Williams just happy to be back

Ali Williams is all smiles after being named in the Tri-Nations squad. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Ali Williams may not have played much rugby in the past two years, but he was still a hero to the young fans who crowded around him at yesterday's announcement of the first All Black squad of the year.

Boys aged between 7 and 12 jostled with one another to get the coveted autograph of the 30-year-old lock, who has made a timely return to international rugby ahead of the World Cup this year.

Williams, who has been out of the game with Achilles and shoulder injuries for 31 months, was named in a squad of 30 for the Tri-Nations.

Nicknamed Comical Ali by some, Williams may have been away from the game, but was quick to deny he had ever lost his spark.

"You have a few weeks that you get down and in the dumps. But I have never really doubted the fact that rugby is what I want or questioned what I wanted to do ... I'm full of spark. I'm all sparked up."

He was not the only one sparked up, with a crowd gathering excitedly at the North Shore Rugby Club for the announcement yesterday afternoon.

With 30 seconds to go, a hush fell over the packed room.

The wooden floors were filled with parents and children alike - grown men sat cross-legged next to kids decked out in green and white - the official colours of the second-oldest club in the country.

All eyes were on coach Graham Henry as he declared that out of this squad would come the team that would attempt to bring World Cup glory to New Zealand this year.

"It's an extremely big year in New Zealand for rugby and for New Zealand as a country. It's a great challenge for this country to put us on the map. It's also a little challenge for New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks."

The only new face is 27-year-old Highlanders lock Jarrad Hoeata.

Each player had a chance to be picked for the World Cup, said Henry.

"We like to keep them all humming and all in the job so they got a chance at being selected for the Rugby World Cup ... it's up to them to take the opportunity."

After the formalities, the named players faced a swarm of enthusiasts brandishing markers to get their rugby balls, hats and jumpers signed.

Former All Black and rugby legend Wayne Shelford said everyone in the packed hall could boast they were at the announcement.

"I believe that these people down here, who have seen this, can say they've seen history in the making."

Local club coach and former All Black Gary Cunningham said the announcement would get the kids excited, necessary because grassroots rugby was fighting to stay alive.

The final squad for the World Cup is expected to be named next month.