FORMER Warriors scrum-half Andy Williams has retired from professional rugby to concentrate on his new career as player development officer for RaboDirect Pro12 outfit Ospreys.

The ex-Wales international, who is completing his coaching qualifications, has also been appointed head coach of Herefordshire side Luctonians.

The 30-year-old, one of the Ospreys originals from their first season of regional rugby in 2003/04, has taken the post at the Swansea club after hanging up his boots following a season where he helped Worcester win promotion back to the Aviva Premiership at the first attempt.

Williams said: “I’ve been a professional rugby player for 12 years and this is the logical next step for me in my career.

“Over the last couple of years I’ve been completing a sports management degree at Swansea Metropolitan University. This is the next chapter in my life and I’m really excited about it.

“I’ve made a conscious decision to hang up my boots. In anything I do, I want to give 100 per cent and if I’m making this career switch that’s what I aim to do.

“Being a rugby player has allowed me to do so many great things. I’ve played for Wales and in a European Challenge Cup final and Heineken Cup semi and quarter-final, but this is a new challenge.

“Before I turned professional I always wanted to work with kids, to help develop rugby players, and what better place to do it than with my home region?”

Williams began his professional career with Bath before a move to Ospreys in 2003 saw him represent his home region 34 times, making his debut in their first competitive match.

He left Ospreys to return to Bath midway through the following season, staying until 2007 when he returned to Wales to play for Newport Gwent Dragons.

Short spells at Moseley and Gloucester followed before he joined Worcester last season and made 17 appearances in their successful promotion campaign. Williams was capped five times by Wales.