YMCA have become quite synonymous with Kiwi captures in recent years.

A contact within the Charles Wesley College in Auckland has provided the Salendine Nook club with a stream of very useful New Zealanders.

These include the excellent TK Luteru and Vince Fatu, way back in 2001, followed by the likes of Isi Fa, Siale Piutau, the other Luteru boys, Junior and Aleni, and most recently Mava Iosefa.

However, this season, the capture of a trio of men from ‘down under’ has come through a combination of good luck and 21st century technology.

Twenty-two-year-old Paul Williams decided the best way to broaden his horizons, see the world and play his favourite sport was to advertise himself on the internet.

And when his notice was spotted by YM coach Carl Thewlis, who followed up with a phone call, Williams was soon on his way to the UK to further his rugby career at Laund Hill.

“The timing worked perfectly for me,” said Williams, who after a five-match lay-off due to injury has now taken up his favoured role at fly-half.

“I’d finished my sports management degree at Uni four months previously, and decided I really wanted to give it a try in England, so I put my CV on the internet. I got a couple of feedbacks, and then Carl (Thewlis) rang me up one night and tempted me into joining the YM.”

It’s the first time Williams has set foot outside New Zealand, having been born and bred in Patea, a small town to the south of Taranaki, in the North Island.

“I’ve always had my heart set on coming over to England, but obviously being the first time out of the country it was a big step, so when a couple of mates from the Taranaki area, Adam Joblin, who is playing at hooker, and full-back Chris Belton also expressed an interest, we all came over together.

“Now the three of us are all living together just down the road from the Laund Hill ground which is very handy.

“I really love it over here. The people are very down to earth, just like at home, and there are some real funny characters at the club!”

Williams has played since his juniors days at the Border club in the Taranaki Union, where he plays either at fly-half, his favoured position, or at half-back.

“Losing to Ilkley last week was a real disappointment after winning the previous three games. We just never started in the first half, and we seem to be a bit of a ‘second-half only’ team,” added Williams.

“We put up a better show after half-time, although perhaps that was down to Ilkley taking their foot off the throat a little!”

YM officials made a special presentation to David Rees after the Ilkley game, to mark his 100th first team game for the club since moving over from Halifax (although it later transpired he has now actually chalked up 102 games!).

The top try-scoring full-back or winger is sadly set to leave the YM early next month when he takes up a new work placement in London, and his departure will rob Thewlis’ side of their most potent attacking force.

Last season Rees won the top try-scorer award in the Yorkshire League when he led the way with 14 touchdowns.

YM face another trip ‘over the tops’ having been drawn away to Cheshire side, Wirral, in the third round of the EDF Senior Vase.

Like Sefton, whom YM knocked out in the previous round, Wirral play in the South Lancashire League, but are in Division I, while Sefton were a Second Division outfit.

The match is scheduled for Saturday, November 17.