The Wizard of Welsh Rugby - Shane Williams Quiz

Answer: Swansea

Shane Mark Williams was born in Morriston, Swansea, Wales, on 26th February 1977, but spent the majority of his childhood in the small town of Glanaman. A fan of rugby union from an early age, he very nearly became a footballer instead, after routinely being told that he was too small to play rugby.

Answer: Wing

Though the majority of Shane Williams' international and club appearances saw him take up the position of winger, the Wales legend was also capable of playing in the position of scrum-half. Indeed the talented Welshman, known for his speed, quick feet and brilliant sidesteps, first joined Neath RFC in 1998 as a second-choice scrum-half.

Answer: The Ospreys

Shane Williams joined Neath RFC in 1998, and so began his professional rugby career. However, in 2003, following the restructuring of Welsh rugby, his team merged with Swansea RFC, and so the Ospreys were born. Williams spent nine years with the Ospreys, finally leaving the club in 2012.

Answer: Italy

Shane Williams made his international debut against France on home turf, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, on 5th February 2000. He scored his first international try during his second appearance for Wales, which was also at the Millennium Stadium, but this time the opposition was tournament newcomers Italy.

Answer: Steve Hansen

Between 2002 and 2004, during Steve Hansen's reign as head coach of the Wales international rugby team, Shane Williams struggled to make it onto the international team. Hansen it seemed, believed that the pint-sized Williams, who then weighed only 11 stone, was too small to cut the mustard on the international stage.

This led to Williams bulking up, which subsequently led to him becoming frequently injured as a result of being too big.

Answer: Gareth Thomas

Prior to the 2008 Six Nations Championship former Wales captain, Gareth Thomas, held the record for the most tries scored while wearing a Welsh rugby shirt. However, 2008 was a Grand Slam-winning year for Wales; and this was also the year that Williams broke Thomas' record of 40 tries, pushing his teammate down into second position.

Answer: iRB Player of the Year

The iRB Player of the Year is an annual award distributed by the International Rugby Board, which is given to the player deemed to be the previous season's best international performer. In 2008, this was awarded to Shane Williams, who beat out Scotland's Mike Blair, New Zealand's Daniel Carter, his very own Wales teammate Ryan Jones and Italy's Sergio Parisse in order to receive it.

Answer: False

Shane Williams did in fact earn a place on the British and Irish Lions team, and actually represented them in 2005, 2009 and 2013. He scored 10 points during his four appearances for the Lions and incredibly, when he was recalled to the squad in 2013, he had already retired from international rugby.

Answer: Japan

In 2012, after a long, illustrious career, Shane Williams looked set to retire from rugby altogether, and so shocked many when he changed his mind and made the move to Japan in order to play with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars. Teammates and fans alike had expected him to take up a staff position at the Ospreys, where he had played for much of his club career.

Answer: MBE

In 2012, Shane Williams topped off an illustrious international rugby union career with an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of his contribution to rugby union. In an interview with the "Western Mail", Williams revealed that he was "very humbled" by the news that he was to be made an MBE, adding that while he was "very proud of everything" he had "achieved in rugby", the MBE was the icing on the cake as it was "not just [for] rugby, but for other things...such as charity work".