Shane Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shane Williams
MBE

Williams in October 2008
Full name	Shane Mark Williams
Date of birth	(1977-02-26) 26 February 1977 (age 48)
Place of birth	Morriston, Swansea, Wales
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	80 kg (180 lb; 12 st 8 lb)
School	Amman Valley School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Scrum-half Youth Career ?–1998 Amman United Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1998–2003 Neath 129 (612) 2003–2012 Ospreys 141 (293) 2012–2015 Mitsubishi 10 (30) National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2000–2011 Wales 87 (290) 2005–2013 British & Irish Lions 4 (10)

Shane Mark Williams is a famous Welsh former rugby union player. He was born on February 26, 1977. Shane is best known for being an amazing wing for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. Sometimes, he also played as a scrum-half.

Shane Williams holds the record for scoring the most tries for Wales. He is also one of the top try scorers in international rugby history. In 2008, he was named the World Rugby Player of the Year. After he stopped playing international rugby in 2012, Shane became a TV presenter and rugby expert. He was also honored with an MBE in 2012 for his contributions to rugby. In 2016, he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

Early Life and First Steps in Sports

Shane Williams was born in Morriston, which is in Swansea, Wales. He grew up in a place called Glanamman. Shane started playing rugby when he was very young, in primary school. He was always smaller than other kids his age.

When he went to secondary school, he was told he was too small for rugby. So, Shane decided to play football instead. He played for a team called Cwmamman United A.F.C.. His coach remembered him as a "superb goalkeeper." Shane played football for many years.

One day, he was invited to play rugby with friends at Amman United RFC. His team won by a huge score, and Shane scored five tries! This amazing game helped him realize his talent for rugby.

Club Rugby Journey

Shane started his junior rugby career as a scrum-half at Amman United RFC. Later, he joined Neath as a second-choice scrum-half. However, his coach quickly saw how talented he was. Shane was moved to play on the wing, where he truly shined.

He signed his first professional contract with Neath. Even though he was offered a job at a local Job Centre, he chose to follow his rugby dream.

Memorable Moments with Ospreys

Shane played for the Ospreys for many years. In his very last game at the Liberty Stadium, he scored a try in the final moments. He even kicked the conversion himself, which was a perfect way to end his time there.

Then, in his final professional club game, Shane scored two tries for the Ospreys. This helped them win the PRO12 final against Leinster by a score of 30–31. One of his tries came in the 78th minute, setting up the winning kick.

Playing in Japan

After his time with the Ospreys, Shane planned to retire from playing. But he received an offer to play for one season in Japan with Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars. The Ospreys supported his decision. He played in Japan for a few years, even taking on a role as a player-coach. He finally returned home at the end of the 2014–15 Japanese season.

Shane officially retired from playing at the end of the 2013/14 season. However, he did play for his home village club, Amman United RFC, again in 2016–2017. He even scored a try in a cup final at the Millennium Stadium. Today, he works as a rugby commentator and expert.

International Rugby Achievements

Shane Williams earned his first cap for Wales in 2000 against France. He was almost 23 years old. He scored his first try for Wales in his very next game against Italy. Overall, he scored 60 international tries, with 58 for Wales and 2 for the British & Irish Lions.

He is Wales' top try scorer in the Six Nations Championship with 22 tries. He also holds the record for Wales' top try scorer in Rugby World Cups with 10 tries.

Grand Slams and Lions Tours

Shane was a key player in the Wales team that won the Grand Slam in 2005. He scored important tries against Italy, Scotland, and especially England. His try against England helped Wales win a famous 11–9 victory.

He was then chosen to play for the British & Irish Lions on their tour to New Zealand in 2005. During this tour, he scored five tries in one game, which equaled a Lions record.

Williams scores a try for the Ospreys away to Ulster in April 2010.

In 2008, Shane helped Wales win another Grand Slam. He scored many tries during this tournament, breaking the record for the most tries scored for Wales. His father even won £25,000 from a bet he made years earlier that Shane would become Wales' leading try scorer! Because of his amazing performances, Shane was named the player of the tournament.

World Rugby Player of the Year

On November 23, 2008, Shane Williams made history. He became the first Welsh player to be named the IRB Player of the Year. This is a huge award in rugby, recognizing the best player in the world. He also won the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year award in 2008.

A 2012 portrait of Williams by portrait artist David Griffiths

In 2009, Shane was again selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He played a fantastic game in the final Test, scoring two tries and helping the Lions win 28–9.

Final International Matches

Shane continued to score important tries for Wales. In 2009, he scored two tries against Argentina, reaching 50 international tries. In 2010, he scored the winning try against Scotland in a remarkable comeback. Wales was losing badly, but Shane's try in the last moments secured a 31–24 victory.

He was part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad in New Zealand. Wales reached the semi-finals, and Shane scored three tries during the tournament.

Shane Williams played his last game for Wales on December 3, 2011, against Australia. He scored his 58th and final try with the very last touch of his international career. The game ended 24–18 to Australia. Shane said that wearing the Welsh jersey was the "best feeling ever."

In 2013, Shane was called up to the Lions squad again to play against the ACT Brumbies in Australia.

Personal Life

In December 2005, Shane Williams married his childhood sweetheart, Gail Branwen Lacey. They met when they were in school together. Shane and Gail have two children.

Honours

Individual

• IRB Player of the Year - 2008

Points Record

This table shows Shane Williams's points and tries for different teams.

Television Appearances

Shane Williams has appeared on many Welsh language TV shows on S4C. He was also a guest on the UK TV comedy drama Stella in 2012.

In February 2012, Shane joined the BBC Wales team as a rugby expert, covering the Six Nations. A BBC2 show in 2012 looked at his early career.

In 2017, Shane trained and played Gaelic football for an Irish club called Glenswilly. He even scored four points in his first game! A BBC One Wales documentary called Shane – For the love of the game also followed him in 2017. This show explored his life after rugby, including working with his family and trying new sports.

See also

In Spanish: Shane Williams para niños