Williams has been nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award

Allan Bateman says Shane Williams is the man to turn rugby union fans in Wales towards rugby league.

Bateman, 43, who played for Wales and Britain in both codes, says the Celtic Crusaders should sign Williams to spearhead their Super League campaign.

"There is only one name on the lips of everyone in world rugby at present - and that is Shane Williams," Bateman told Thursday's Sport Wales programme.

But the Crusaders insist their priority is to develop Welsh talent, not buy it.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on Shane Williams to the Crusaders

They plan to announce their new playing squad within weeks, but Australian coach John Dixon insists they are not chasing big names such as Williams.

"If Shane Williams knocked on my door then I'd certainly open it to talk to him," said Dixon.

"Rugby league has taken that approach in the past, with big-name signings to attract crowds, but our strategy is different. It's to build from the bottom up.

"Outside of the Catalan Dragons, there is no team in Super League that have the potential player base to draw upon that we have.

"Wales is a wonderful sporting nation with great kids, and if we can attract a number of them then I'm sure we can become very competitive."

If I was involved with the Crusaders then without a doubt the first person I would be calling is Shane Allan Bateman

The Crusaders will compete with rugby union for new players, having already claimed the number of schoolchildren playing rugby league in South Wales has grown from 936 to 1,500 in the past two years.

Their plans have worried rugby union bosses in the area, with talks having been held to merge Maesteg and Bridgend rugby union clubs in a union heartland left bereft of a top-flight team since the demise of the Celtic Warriors.

But Bateman insists that a high-profile move for IRB Player of the Year nominee Williams is the way forward for the Crusaders.

"If I was involved with the Crusaders then without a doubt the first person I would be calling is Shane," he told Sport Wales.

"He is an exciting, powerful and dynamic player, who at the moment is probably the best rugby player in the world.

"I would break the bank to get him, to put bums on seats, and increase the profile for the Crusaders.

"Shane has done everything in rugby union and there are not many players who have played for the Lions in rugby union and then Great Britain in rugby league. He's good enough to be one of them."

Bateman played with Williams at Neath after he moved to try his hand at rugby league.

Playing at either centre or wing, Bateman played for Great Britain twice during a league career with Warrington Wolves and Cronulla Sharks.

After returning to union in 1996 with Richmond, Bateman was chosen for the 1997 Lions to South Africa and earned a cap in the final Test to join a small elite who have played for both Great Britain and the Lions.

Williams became his country's record try scorer last season as Wales claimed their second Grand Slam in four years, beating Gareth Thomas' mark of 40 in the win over France.

Williams, however, is less sure that rugby league is where his future lies, despite being flattered by Bateman's faith.

"I've never played rugby league before, although I've played it in training, so I'd have to start the whole learning process all over again," Williams said.

"It's very humbling to hear that from Allan but I don't think I'd be the right choice at the moment.

"There are world-class rugby league boys out there at the moment who could fill that space.

"Having played with Allan and knowing how fit he is, I'm sure Allan could pull his boots back on and start playing!

"Fortunately for me I'm enjoying my rugby with the Ospreys, hopefully it'll continue for the next couple of years so I can stay away from that rugby league - it seems a little tough to me!

*Watch Sport Wales on Thursday, 25 September, on BBC Two Wales & 2W, 2200-2230 BST

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