Williams bags IRB gong

12 April 2012

Wales winger Shane Williams has been named IRB player of the year.

The 31-year-old Ospreys player saw off competition from Wales captain Ryan Jones, New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, Scotland captain Mike Blair and Italy skipper Sergio Parisse to land the award at a gala dinner in London.

Williams scored six tries in the 2008 Six Nations and was named player of the tournament as Wales won the Grand Slam.

He broke Gareth Thomas' try-scoring record in the title-clinching victory over France and has scored 43 tries in 60 Tests for his country - 14 of them in his last 13 Tests - after making his debut against Italy in 2000 at the age of 21.

Swansea-born Williams has also represented the Lions, winning caps against Argentina and New Zealand three years ago.