Shane Williams announces retirement from Club rugby

Wales and Ospreys great Shane Williams to retire at end of season

Shane Williams will retire from all rugby at the end of this season, BBC Sport Wales understands.
Wales' record try scorer quit Test rugby in December, with 58 tries in 87 games for his country and two in four Tests for the British and Irish Lions.
Wing Williams, who turns 35 this month, has a contract with the Ospreys until the end of the 2012-13 season.
The Welsh region had also offered Williams a year extension, but he has decided to hang up his boots for good.
Williams signed off from the international stage in typical fashion, scoring a last-gasp try in the 24-18 defeat to Australia in Cardiff on 3 December.
At 5ft 7in and 12st 8lb Williams bucked the trend for powerhouse wingers in the professional game and in 2008 was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year .

Williams has already expressed a desire to become a coach and has previously spoken to Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy and elite performance director Andrew Hore about his post-playing career prospects.
But during the forthcoming Six Nations, Williams will join the BBC team of pundits providing expert views and analysis on the championship.
Williams started his junior career as a scrum-half at Amman United RFC, but after going professional with Neath was converted to play on the wing under then-coach Lyn Jones.
When Wales adopted regional rugby in 2003 it was natural that Williams became an Osprey, with the new side created by a merger between Neath and local rivals Swansea.
Williams earned his first cap off the bench against France in Wales' opening game of the 2000 Six Nations, then scored his first Test try in his first full start against Italy.

During his time playing for his country Williams has enjoyed two Grand Slams, the first in 2005 that ended Wales' 27-year wait for a championship clean sweep, and then again in 2008 .
He was also called up for two Lions tours, the first in 2005 to New Zealand and then to South Africa in 2009.
Williams played in a warm-up for the Lions against Argentina before they departed for New Zealand, but was then overlooked for the Test side until a five-try haul against Manawatu - equalling a single-game Lions record - saw him selected for the second match with the All Blacks .
Against the Springboks four years later Williams again had to bide his time, but he came off the bench in the second Test and then started the third Test - scoring two tries in a 28-9 win that restored some Lions pride.
To date Williams has played 136 times for the Ospreys, scoring 54 tries in the process for the Swansea-based side.

SHANE WILLIAMS
DoB: 26/2/77
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 12st 8lb
Position: Wing
Clubs: Amman United RFC, Neath, Ospreys
Test record: 60 tries (58 for Wales, 2 for Lions) from 91 Tests (87 for Wales, 4 for Lions)

But during the forthcoming Six Nations, Williams will join the BBC team of pundits providing expert views and analysis on the championship.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:It's such a shame and will really hit the Osreys particularly if Bowe goes, in 2 seasons they'll go from a backline of Byrne, Bowe, Williams - with back up from B Davies, Fussell, Walker, to a back line of B Davies, Dirksen, Walker and back-up from Prydie, Walker, Phillips - that's one hell of a difference.

Great player and ambassador, he'll be missed.

Feckless Rogue wrote:His detractors don't have a leg to stand on. His scoring record speaks for itself.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Feckless Rogue wrote:His detractors don't have a leg to stand on. His scoring record speaks for itself.

Yep, nearly as good as Chris Ashton

"Following his retirement from international rugby earlier this season we have been involved in ongoing discussions with Shane regarding his future career once he inevitably decides to hang up his boots.

"While these discussions are ongoing and obviously remain confidential, Shane remains contracted to the Ospreys and 100 per cent committed to the team, as you would expect, just as we remain committed to helping Shane make the natural progression from player to administrator.

"True to our ethos of development from within, we hope to be able to confirm shortly a new role for Shane within the organisation, which will enable him to continue serving the region with the same distinction he has as a player.

"Until such a time that discussions have been concluded, there will be no further comment on this matter from either party."

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Am still very suprised and can't believe I'm saying it - but cheers for the post Hersh I couldn't agree more.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Apparetnly, according to the radio, Shane's retirement is not a sure thing, and there may be a new deal in the pipeline for him. Although how true it is who knows.