| The side-stepping winger - Shane Williams retires |
 6 December 2011: The aftermath of a Rugby World Cup is often the retirements from playing the international game. The peak of a rugby career has been reached and with the player often in their mid to late thirties it is usually time to hang up the boots. We have now seen one of the most exciting players in the rugby union world do just that – Shane Williams.
The Ospreys and Wales diminutive winger has amassed 87 caps for Wales and 4 caps for the British Lions. He is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and is also third highest scorer of international Test tries behind Daisuke Ohata of Japan and David Campese of Australia. When Shane is on the rugby field expectations sky rocket. Unfortunately today the movement of the ball along the three-quarter line to the wing is often hindered by the defensive and offensive work of the forwards. However, when the ball does get to the wing and Shane Williams is there to receive it then sparks will fly. The master of the side-step, seeing the opening in the opposition defence and then accelerating away is a sight to behold. Shane Williams touch-down in his last international game against the Australians underlined the expertise and sheer theatre of the game of rugby. We will miss Shane Williams on the international scene but hope he will continue to display his skills with his club Ospreys.
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