DAN WILLIAMS is looking forward to returning to professional rugby after re-signing for Plymouth Albion.

Former Gloucester and London Welsh player Williams made 12 appearances for Albion during the 2013-14 – six in the Championship and six in the British & Irish Cup.

However, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery which meant he missed the end of that campaign.

He then joined Newton Abbot for the 2014-15 season before spending last term as a player-coach at Torquay Athletic.

However, the 27-year-old impressed for Devon in the County Championship and earned selection for the England Counties squad to tour Canada.

He start all three of England’s matches in Canada, which persuaded him to give higher level rugby another go.

“I was talking to Albion’s Matt Shepherd while on tour in Canada and he asked me what I was doing next season,” said the former Ivybridge Community College pupil, who nearly returned to Albion last year.

“I’m really glad to be getting back into a professional set up and I am looking forward to playing National One rugby next season.”

Williams, like Nile Dacres, can play in the second or back-row and hopes he can challenge for a starting spot.

Meanwhile, hooker Rupert Freestone has committed himself to another season at Brickfields.

Freestone, who can also play prop, returned to Albion last summer after a three-year absence. He made 15 starts and 11 replacement appearances.

His form for Plymouth last term saw him earn international honours for England Students. The 25-year-old also helped Cornwall retain the County Championship.

Albion’s pack is getting close to completion, but the club still have plenty of gaps to fill in the backs, with Billy Searle, Ethan Ford, Marc Kotezcky, Elliot Bale, Jake Murphy and Tom Bedford all confirmed departures.