Shane Mark Williams was born in Morriston on 26 February 1977 and educated at Amman Valley Comprehensive School. Originally a scrum-half at club level with Amman United, he joined Neath and was converted into a wing. He later joined the Ospreys regional team. First capped by Wales in 2000, by the summer of 2011 he had eatablished a new Welsh record for try-scoring with 56 in 81 internationals. He also scored two tries in tests for the British Isles. On their 2005 tour to New Zealand he scored five tries in one match against Manawatu. He also toured with the Lions to South Africa in 2009. His tally for the two tours was eight tries in 13 games, including four tests. Shane Williams was voted the International Rugby Board's player of the year in 2008. In the same year he was a replacement for the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley Stadium.