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Player Profile: Shane Williams

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Shane Williams - Rugby Player Profile

Shane Mark Williams, the 35-year-old Wales and Ospreys' winger called time on his career recently, retiring from both international and domestic rugby.
Williams’ career was one worthy of envy, and he retired with many accolades. His short height (5’7) was thought off as too short for a winger, but he proved his critics wrong, and was known as a pacy winger, who could side-step his opponents easily, on way
to scoring a try.
Tries he scored, and ended his career as Wales’ highest try-scorer, and third globally. He played 91 test matches in total, 87 in Welsh colours and represented the elite British and Irish Lions 4 times. For Wales, the winger scored 58 tries, 290 points in
total. For the British and Irish Lions, he managed 2 tries for 10 points. He has remarkable statistics, averaging a try every 1.5 game.
Besides forging his reputation as one of the best wingers in the world at the end of his career, it was never such smooth sailing for him in his early days. He was consistently overlooked for Wales' duty, and his debut against France at Millennium Stadium,
on February 5, 2000, was followed by injuries and indifference of the selectors. He recalled that during 2001 and 2003, he suffered many hamstring injuries, and he often thought of quitting the sport altogether.
Like all great athletes, Williams did not give up and came back a stronger player. He made his return for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was influential at the 2003-04 Six Nations tournament. He played at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and in total he made 11 appearances
at the prestigious tournament, scoring 50 points in total. For his impressive displays he was named IRB International Player of the Year in 2008. He played his last World Cup in 2011, and guided Wales to a respectable 4th place finish, losing to
Australia in the third position play-off game.
He played his last international match against Australia at the Millennium Stadium, on December 3, 2011, and it was a fitting end to his career, as he scored his 60th test try. Scripts like these are written in heaven, and the 60,000 crowd at
the Millennium Stadium was hoping to see one final try by the mercurial winger, and he duly delivered.
In March 2012 he announced that he will also be quitting from domestic rugby at the end of the year. He wanted to nurture the next generation of players at his club, the Ospreys and make way for the future. In a fitting finale to his club career, he guided
the Ospreys to the RaboDirect PRO12 title against Heineken Cup champions, Leinster.
Shane Williams has gained much in his career and the sport of rugby will forever miss the winger.

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