Biography - Shane Williams

WHEN a fresh-faced twenty-two-year-old winger from the Amman Valley first appeared on the international stage in 2000, few would have predicted that he would turn into one of the greatest players in world rugby and a Welsh sporting icon.

In an era when big bruisers were getting the nod ahead of their quicker, more agile and entertaining rivals for the 11 and 14 jerseys, many felt the days of a speedy winger skipping around the defence to score were a thing of the past. But eight years and 56 caps later, Shane Williams has proved to be one of the best wingers in Welsh history and has cemented his place as one of the all-time greats of the game.

In a career that started in the number nine shirt for Amman Utd, Shane has equalled a British Lions try-scoring record, won a Grand Slam, two Magners League titles with the Ospreys and is just six tries from becoming the leading try-scorer in Welsh history.

After initially breaking into the Wales team as a Neath player in 2000, a run that saw him average almost a try a game, including a hat-trick against Japan, was brought to an abrupt end when he fell out of favour with then Wales coach Steve Hansen.

But he returned from the international wilderness in style during the World Cup in 2003, when his recall to the side heralded two Welsh performances, against New Zealand and England, that lit up the entire tournament. Another international hat-trick followed in 2004, this time out in Argentina, but it was the following year that he really began to secure his place among the best wingers in the game. Shane crossed for the only try in Wales' 11-9 victory over England that got the 2005 success story rolling and was also on the scoresheet against Scotland and Italy.

His key role in the nation's first Grand Slam in 27 years booked his place on the British Lions tour to New Zealand after securing the Ospreys' first-ever trophy in the shape of the Celtic League.

And it was in New Zealand that he made history by equalling a Lions record-for most tries scored by an individual in one match-when he crossed five times against Manawatu. This performance led to Shane receiving the nod for the second test and although the Lions were whitewashed in the series, he was one of a handful of players to have gained the respect of the rugby-mad All Blacks fans.

In 2007, he played yet another instrumental part in the Ospreys' second Magners League success in three years and his two tries almost helped the region seal a superb comeback win in the EDF Final against Leicester at Twickenham.

He was one of few positives to come out of Wales' World Cup campaign in France, scoring six tries, including one contender for try of the tournament in the side's defeat to Fiji and winning his 50th cap during the competition. He continued that form on his return to domestic duty, scoring six tries, including his first-ever Ospreys hat-trick, in his first three games of the season and currently stands as the leading try-scorer in the history of the region after crossing 39 times.

His 41 international tries, scored in just 56 appearances, leave him as the leading try-scorer in Welsh history and one of the most entertaining players ever to grace Welsh rugby.

Owen Lock