The Sports Corner

Welshman Shane Williams named IRB Player of the Year

Star Welsh winger Shane Williams has today been named the IRB’s Player of the Year.

He becomes the first Welshman to win the prestigious award, who only month’s ago was named the Six Nations Player of the Year when he tied Will Greenwood’s try scoring record in the tournament. Williams was presented the award by last year’s winner South African winger Bryan Habana.

“It’s been a hell of a year and this has just capped it off really,” said Williams. “It’s the biggest honour you can get as an individual in rugby and it’s totally overwhelming. To receive the award from Bryan Habana, who is one of the best - if not the best - winger in the world means so much to me.”

Williams has been one of the most consistent performers in international rugby for several years.

The 31 year old boasts a record of 43 tries from 62 tests but admitted in 2002 he was close to quitting the game and moving on. After coming off a series of recurring injuries, Williams was on the outside looking in and not part of Welsh coach Steve Hansen’s future plans.

“I was fed up and felt like quitting,” recalled Williams. “I wasn’t playing for Wales and I wasn’t happy. There were times when I thought it wasn’t worth it and I was convinced I wouldn’t play for Wales again.”

Set backs and adversary are nothing new to Williams, who at five foot six inches was considered too small to make it in rugby. He wanted to be a footballer, and not a rugby player, picked up the game late in his childhood and was selected to represent Wales while still a club player at Amman United.

Then the scrum half was noticed because of his electrifying pace and ability to out step defenders, a trademark of his game many have seen since he made his international debut.

Completing the awards night, the New Zealand All Blacks were unsurprisingly named IRB Team of the Year and their coach Graham Henry was named IRB Coach of the Year. Former Argentina captain Agustin Pichot was given the International Rugby Players Association Special Merit Award for his contributions to rugby on and off the field.