Williams' fitness update

ENGLAND captain George Williams insists it would have taken “losing an arm” to make him miss the Ashes series against Australia this autumn.

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The England skipper will lead his country out against the Kangaroos at Wembley this Saturday in what will be his first game of rugby league since August 29.

Battling a shoulder issue that saw him miss the end of the Super League season, there was no doubt in the 30-year-old's mind that he wouldn't be ready for the first Test. In fact, by Williams' own account, he is fitter now than he was during the club season, with Ade Gardner, the former St Helens winger and now conditioner, getting him in prime shape to take on the Aussies.

"It would have taken me losing an arm to not play in this series, to be honest," Williams told All Out Rugby League. "It was a little scary, though, and at one point, I had to have a scan to see if an operation was needed, but I'm all good, and here I am. All the symptoms are gone and I'm ready to play."