DEPARTING Worcester Warriors forward Mike Williams insists it will be a strange feeling lining up against his mates next season in Leicester Tigers colours.

Williams’s parting gift to Worcester – after his two seasons at the club – was helping them get back to the Aviva Premiership at the first attempt.

The Zimbabwe-born forward played 51 times for Warriors and his sole try was in the opening match of the Championship campaign at Bristol.

Looking back at his time at Sixways, Williams said securing promotion this week had been the icing on the cake.

“It was an amazing way to finish after two very happy years,” he said.

“The Worcester guys have been a huge part of my career and it’s an excellent way to finish.

“Seeing Chris Pennell cross over the line in the last minute was amazing.”

A powerful ball-carrier, Williams captained the Sharks at age-group level in South Africa before deciding to further his career with Tuks and the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls.

“I remember my first day with Warriors, arriving at Malvern College on a Thursday afternoon and meeting Dean Ryan for the first time having signed through Richard Hill,” he recalled.

“I always knew coming to England and leaving South Africa was going to be a new start for me. I had a plan to show what I had as a player.”

The Bulawayo-born player made 25 appearances for Warriors during the 2013-14 campaign and carved out a reputation as a committed, hard-working forward.

He said: “It was a massive eye-opener coming from junior rugby and I never thought I would be given the opportunity to start in the first Premiership game of the season at Welford Road against Leicester,” he said. “I was very fortunate Dean backed me throughout the campaign.

“It was a tough year with us being relegated but it was a learning curve and I was grateful for that.

“It was always going to be a tough year with Dean coming into the coaching role not having signed a team he wanted to, with a squad that Richard signed.”

Williams says his dream is to play international rugby for England and he is qualified to play for the country through his late grandfather, who was born in Sussex.

“Being an English-qualified player was one of my biggest reasons for coming over,” he said.

“Through my late granddad, I was able to get my ancestry visa, which is for five years, and then I can qualify for my British passport.

“After my three years at Leicester I will be able to apply for my full passport.

“With the passport I have at the moment, I have to get visas wherever I go.

“I won’t be able to have dual citizenship with Zimbabwe so I will have to throw that one away.”

Williams said he was sad to be leaving Warriors, particularly players like Nick Schonert and skipper Gerrit-Jan van Velze.

He said: “Nick and I have been playing together since 2009 and the Sharks under 19s so I have known him for seven years.

“It’s tough leaving, especially because of people like Nick and GJ, who I get on well with.

“Since day one of the Leicester stuff coming out, I made sure I didn’t burn any bridges with Dean and I had discussions with him right from the beginning.

“I know it’s going to be tough coming up against my mates at Sixways next season but I am excited to be coming back to play.

“I know it’s my home and I will always be welcome back.”