"A good friend of mine owns a farm, so I have been helping him out because he has got a fair amount of sheep,” said Williams, who has made 22 competitive appearances for the Falcons since coming through the academy.

"I've been wrapping the wool, helping with the shearing and sorting it all so it's been quite hard work.

"It's probably more endurance based because there's a lot of mass to move with very little rest, so after you've been in the gym in the morning it gets on top of you and you do feel rather tired.

"I have felt absolutely wrecked the next day when I have come in, but it's been good, hard work and there has been loads of benefit. I am happy with that, and happy with how things are going in general.”

Forwards coach Peter Walton is fully behind Williams’ extra curricular activity, saying: “I’m from a farming background myself and had to combine my rugby often with working on the farm.

“I found that to be beneficial when I was a player, and for the likes of Johnny to be doing a hard shift sheep sheering after training can only be good for him. We are from an area with a big farming heritage, and there are a few of our boys like Phil Dawson and a couple of others who are well involved with the farm work at home.”

Williams is just one of the Falcons players to have been benefiting from the club’s early return to pre-season action, saying: "I think these extra training sessions are helping us a lot.

"The last few weeks we have been ticking over, and now we just can start looking forward to the new season.

"Last season was disappointing for me not having that many games so hopefully come pre-season I'll be as fit as I possibly can be and as strong as I can be then I can put myself in contention for a starting berth.

"Even as long as I am on the bench, provided I am involved that will be great, because all you can ask is that you are there and thereabouts and then if you get a good run you can cement a spot.”

Williams forms part of a competitive front row division including the likes of Joe McDonnell, Micky Ward, David Wilson and Jon Golding, not to mention the imminent arrival of All Black great Carl Hayman.

"It's fantastic having someone as experienced as Carl coming to the club I'm looking forward to having a bit of chat on with him to find out how he has got to be the best in the world,” he said.

"Hopefully I'll be able to pick his brains a bit and learn as much as I can from him.

"Competing with Carl, in a sense he is nearer the end of his career whereas I am just starting out, and hopefully I can compete well with him in training and he'll guide me through a little bit on how to do certain things.

"Hopefully that will improve my game so when he comes over we'll all be able to learn a lot."