Who were the best welsh rugby players 1/2 years ago that are still playing now?

Question

Who were the best welsh rugby players 1/2 years ago that are still playing now?

Answer 1

Almost al the players that contributed to the Grand Slam in 2005 are still playing rugby, but some haven't played for Wales recently due to loss of form/ injury/ other players coming through the ranks (eg Gavin Henson, Rhys Williams, Gareth Cooper, Michael Owen).  Off the top of my head, Robin McBride is the only one who's retired from rugby altogether.

The best players that season probably included Martyn Williams, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel and Tom Shanklin - all are still part of the team, though Stephen Jones seems to be hanging by a thread at the moment...

Answer 2

The Best ones still playing now are Shane Williams, Shanklin, Ryan Jones, Dwain Peel and (just for the sheer passion he brings to the team) Gareth Thomas.

Answer 3

Phil's answer is fair enough although I wouldn't describe Stephen Jones as being the best at anything. As for McBride, the man is a great loss to the game. He was very strong apparently; first time I ever saw him was on Britain's strongest man or the world's strongest man, one of those strength competitions usually won by a man called Magnus ver Magnussen. A quick google search of McBride's name and we're instantly reminded of the man's contribution to the game, so often from the launchpad of the replacement's bench; "Wales waste a three-man overlap when hooker Robin McBride's pass goes forward" is a quote from the BBC's assessment of McBride's contribution to one International match.

We'll miss you Robin, you were very, very strong and reasonably reliable at throwing the ball in at the lineout.