Shane Williams

Who is Shane Williams?

Shane Mark Williams, MBE is a Welsh rugby union player most famous for his long and successful tenure as a wing for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. He can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for Wales, and is third on the international list of leading rugby union test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata and David Campese. He is Wales' most capped winger.

In 2008, Williams was selected as the IRB Player of the Year.

Williams is well known for his side-step, acceleration and his ability to find open space through opposition defence. He has been described as one of the most exciting wingers in the world.

Since his retirement from international rugby in 2012, Williams has worked as a presenter on S4C's Six Nations rugby programme Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol. Williams was selected to the Barbarians squad that played Wales in June 2012. It was originally planned to be his last appearance as a player, but he shortly thereafter signed a one-year contract to play in Japan with Mitsubishi Dynaboars in June 2012.

Williams was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to rugby.