Liam Williams' new boss at Newcastle Red Bulls has told his teammates exactly what to expect from the Wales international, summing him up in perfect fashion.
The 34-year-old had been left without a club after leaving Saracens at the end of last of season and was training with Cardiff as he looked to get a role with one of Wales' professional sides. However, after that failed to transpire, Williams has now opted to move up north and join Newcastle, who have lofty ambitions after their takeover by energy drink giant Red Bull.
The PREM Rugby side announced the signing of the 93-cap international on Monday, with Williams saying he wants to "challenge" himself with his new team, while "add[ing] a bit of experience to the squad and help[ing] some of the younger guys to maximise their ability".
While he is now at the tail end of his career, however, the two-time British & Irish Lions tourist is still a classy operator and brings a wealth of experience from the highest level of the game. That is something that Newcastle head coach Steve Diamond has made clear to Williams' new teammates from the outset, as he hailed him as an ideal addition to their playing squad.
A behind-the-scenes report from MailOnline has revealed that, during a squad meeting on the day that the Welshman underwent his medical, Diamond told his players that Williams is "the sort of bloke we want" as he explained what he could bring to the team. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
"Liam Williams is coming in about half an hour," the coach is reported as saying. "'If that goes well with his medical, we'll get that nailed today. We've got young back-threes and he's got a wealth of experience.
"He's a hard b*****d.," he added. "He was a scaffolder 'til he was 24 and now he's close to 100 caps. He's the sort of bloke we want in the gang."
The report also reveals that Diamond and Williams had met earlier in the summer - not in a meeting room or on the training field, but by a hotel pool while they were both on holiday in Majorca.
After putting pen to paper with Newcastle, Williams admitted he had been impressed by his new coach's plans for the club, as they look to enter a new era after a dismal few years at the bottom of English rugby's top flight. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"It's a good opportunity to experience something new, and I can't wait to get started," said the former Scarlets and Cardiff back. "It's an exciting time to be joining Newcastle with Red Bull taking over the club, and everything they're able to bring to the sport.
"I came up to speak to Steve Diamond, to see the set-up and hear his plans for how it is all going to evolve, and I'm just keen to get into it. I want to challenge myself, and hopefully I'm able to add a bit of experience to the squad and help some of the younger guys to maximise their ability."
Williams is the 14th player to sign for Newcastle since Red Bull began their involvement with the club, with the Welshman following the likes of Christian Wade, Freddie Clarke, Tom Christie and Amanaki Mafi to Kingston Park. He could now make his debut for his new side against his old one, Saracens, in their PREM Rugby opener on Friday night.
"Liam has done it all in terms of domestic, European and international rugby, but his enthusiasm for the sport remains as strong as ever," Diamond added as the signing was confirmed. "At this stage in our journey he gives us the kind of experience we need, and he's a proven winner.
"Throughout our conversations it was abundantly clear he just wants to perform at the highest level, and he'll be a great influence on the other players in our environment. I'm looking forward to seeing his impact on and off the field, and it just continues the growing sense of excitement around the club at the moment."