Shane

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-2008 was a year

-of legendary moments.

-Immortal moments

-that we'll remember forever.

-A Welsh winger who shone on the

-rugby fields all over the world...

-..with not only one,

-but many moments of pure wizardry.

-Late in November,

-it was officially acknowledged...

-..that the little wizard from

-Ammanford, was a giant of the game.

-Who is you successor

-as player of the year?

-Ladies and gentlemen,

-IRB player of the year 2008...

-..Shane Williams.

-When you think of all the

-rugby players in the world...

-..it's an honour

-to be named best player.

-I still can't believe it.

-It's a very special feeling.

-I've accomplished something

-I never thought was possible.

-No-one can take it away from me.

-I'm very proud

-and I have been very lucky.

-I love my job and it's always easier

-when you enjoy what you're doing.

-I've worked hard.

-I haven't always had it my way

-but I've succeeded.

-2008 was Shane Williams'

-testimonial year.

-A reward for representing Neath

-and the Ospreys for a decade.

-A chance to earn pocket money, grand

-dinner parties, testimonial games...

-..and an auction to sell some

-treasures from the golden era.

-Treasures that are valuable

-for their memories.

-Memories of unforgettable moments.

-Of course, the first shirt

-I wore will be in the auction.

-Someone's phoning me again!

-This is my first Ospreys shirt.

-That's the rugby kit I wore

-at the 2003 World Cup...

-..against Jason Robinson -

-he's signed it.

-You can see from that name

-at the bottom that it's genuine.

-This is the only one which has been

-made with the yellow togs.

-It says on the base that it's a

-limited edition - yellow boots.

-41/41 - there were 41 tries!

-That's the reason this has been

-made and it's unique.

-These are the shirts I wore

-during the Grand Slam in 2008.

-England, Scotland,

-Italy, Ireland...

-..and France

-is in gold for some reason.

-It's probably because it was

-the final game of the Grand Slam.

-Looking at them makes me

-want to keep them.

-I may change my mind before dinner!

-One second...

-you only need one second...

-One second of wizardry.

-Wales v Scotland

-I don't know if any other player

-in the world...

-..could have done what Shane did

-when it was crucial.

-What I do is try to push

-my opponents away first.

-If you can get them out of the way,

-there's usually a gap behind them.

-His space is diminishing,

-he doesn't have much left...

-..to get him to the line.

-He knows exactly where he is

-on the field...

-..even though things are moving so

-quickly and defence is so tight...

-..even though the line is so close.

-I don't even think about it.

-I just want to get over the line.

-He was in the air.

-No part of his body

-was touching the ground.

-The try against Scotland - perhaps

-I wouldn't have scored that try...

-..if I'd never done gymnastics.

-I stretched myself in that corner

-and I was lucky to score a try.

-That one moment of genius...

-..made a stadium full of

-people - 75,000 people...

-..all hold their breath

-at the same time.

-They were open-mouthed.

-They could hardly believe

-what they were seeing.

-Shane Williams is through the gap

-and going for the corner.

-He's in for his second.

-The try came out of nowhere.

-As we've seen in recent years, Shane

-had the spark at the right moment.

-He was born on 26 February 1977

-at Morriston.

-He was a big baby.

-They said he was going to be small.

-But when he was born,

-he was nine pounds.

-He was a big baby.

-He's Shane Mark -

-named Mark after his father.

-I wanted to give him

-an unusual name, so I chose Shane.

-He didn't like toys

-when he was little.

-He liked being outside all day.

-After school, I used to go home,

-change, have something to eat...

-..then I'd be out all evening.

-I'd either be playing football

-or rugby in the park.

-We'd play johnny knockers, fox

-and hounds, hide and seek and so on.

-Whatever it was, I'd be there.

-When I went home, Mum would go nuts

-because I'd be so dirty.

-I was always having

-to change my clothes.

-All he ever wanted

-to do was play sport.

-He was talented at football,

-gymnastics, athletics and boxing.

-He was BMX champion.

-He did fun runs, rugby - everything.

-But not cricket.

-For some reason, I hate cricket.

-Every sport I've done has helped me.

-Playing soccer has helped me

-with my kicking game.

-Everyone loves playing soccer.

-We needed a goalie

-and Shane decided to go in goal.

-That's how he started playing

-for Cwmamman Football Club.

-He always wanted to come out

-and take penalties and corners...

-..or free kicks

-or anything rather than be in goal.

-He could catch well and throw -

-he could do it all.

-I never thought I was talented.

-I played these sports

-because I liked them.

-It was a chance to meet up

-with friends...

-..keep off the streets...

-..and play a couple of games.

-I thought,

-"well, this is bloody easy".

-From the first day I saw him kicking

-the ball on the ground...

-..and saw his footballing skills...

-..he could head the ball well too...

-..I realized there wasn't anything

-he couldn't do.

-But his left foot was his strongest

-not his right.

-He developed other skills

-playing football.

-He often looks up to see

-what's happening on the field.

-In football, you tend to have your

-head up far more than in rugby.

-In rugby, you keep your head down

-and your behind in the air.

-That's how rugby is played,

-especially when you're young.

-Gavin Henson has played some

-football, as has James Hook.

-Those boys have plenty of vision.

-So perhaps it does help.

-I think he could have played

-football at a high level.

-He was quick and he had the skills.

-I think he would have gone

-a long way.

-I wasn't good enough to play

-for Manchester United...

-..so I started playing rugby again.

-At Amman Valley School, the great

-entertainer found another talent...

-..and love for another sport.

-Like so many other stars, he was

-lucky to have excellent teachers.

-One of these was his gymnastics

-teacher, Dai Beynon.

-Mr Beynon was important to everyone.

-He was a good teacher and he helped

-me not only with gymnastics...

-..but he taught me rugby, football

-and other sports.

-If people don't give you a chance

-or any hope of doing something...

-..it's very difficult.

-You begin to hate the teacher then

-and sometimes the sport as well.

-Could you do it now?

-I expect I could attempt something.

-It's nice to see

-the trampettes out.

-I used to like doing things

-on the trampette.

-After half an hour's practice, I'm

-sure you'll be able to do it easily.

-I'd need to do a few stretches

-first.

-Maybe not today - I've a few

-important games coming up.

-I used to like gymnastics.

-I used to come in at lunchtime

-to do it, so I must have liked it.

-I remember this gym

-as being much bigger.

-You were smaller then.

-Yes, I was a bit smaller.

-I remember when you started here,

-you were small for your age.

-But you were a bundle of energy.

-I loved doing it.

-It was a chance for me to do things

-like Oliver as well.

-You remember Oliver, do you?

-You remember Oliver, do you?

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-I'll never forget it.

-My grandmother's still

-got the video.

-Every time someone talks about

-Oliver, she talks about the video.

-It happened the first night.

-I remember it well.

-I was at the side of the stage

-watching. We'd rehearsed so much.

-We had check marks and you hit one

-of the check marks with your foot.

-I don't remember.

-It was the wrong foot.

-I just hoped the piano teacher

-was okay after I fell on her.

-You had something that

-a lot of people don't have.

-You had vision

-and spatial awareness.

-We called you "the cat" in private.

-We compared you to a cat.

-If you throw a cat in the air,

-it'll always land on her feet.

-You were the same.

-You always knew where you were.

-I'm not sure about that -

-I fell on my head a few times.

-Not when I was here.

-I can only think of two players from

-Wales, Britain or maybe the world...

-..who could do the things

-you can do now.

-Both of you were good gymnasts.

-You and Gareth Edwards.

-You've both had the honour of being

-named best players in the world.

-Well done you.

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-Rugby was the main sport

-at Amman Valley School.

-And on the old playing fields,

-with his former teachers...

-..the memories come flooding back.

-I played for the first team

-a couple of times.

-I played scrum-half at school.

-Some of the players

-were a lot better than me...

-..such as Dylan Davies

-who was in the year above me.

-He always played in the first team.

-I knew he was better than me, so I

-usually played in the second team.

-There's nothing wrong with that.

-That's the way it was.

-I wasn't good enough.

-You mostly played scrum-half

-in Years 7, 8 and 9.

-I think you played on the wing

-up in Doncaster.

-I scored five tries against them

-the first time we went there.

-I played on the wing there.

-Did you have a girlfriend up there

-or shouldn't I mention that?

-Shane is a perfect example of

-someone who wasn't a superstar...

-..when he was in school.

-We've coached loads of boys

-who have played for the county...

-..especially in Years 7, 8 and 9

-and who haven't developed further.

-Shane has stuck at it.

-He switched from playing soccer.

-He always enjoyed his games

-at school.

-He came to rugby

-when he was a bit older.

-It's important to enjoy

-what you do at that age.

-Looking back, it was wise to take

-a year or two out to play football.

-You came back to it fresh.

-One second. It only takes

-one second to do something.

-One second of wizardry.

-Wales vs Ireland

-At Croke Park, I felt it was a game

-we should win.

-We had to win it.

-I didn't want to go home and say

-"what a pity!" again.

-We've been to Dublin and lost.

-And that glittering moment came.

-If Wales hadn't scored then,

-they might have lost the game.

-The game went up a gear

-when he got the ball.

-He made the difference in that game

-and put Wales in the lead.

-He thinks so quickly

-and does things so quickly.

-Things happen in a millisecond.

-He has no space, there are

-three or four in defence...

-It's his strength as well as he

-pushes the tackler out of the way.

-It was the first time

-I'd beaten a player with a hand-off.

-It was quite a special feeling.

-And yet he found his way past

-all of them and crossed the line.

-When he needs to, he can remember

-everything he's done...

-..read the situation in front of him

-and take the right course of action.

-He knows, in that second,

-that he could make a mistake too.

-That's his greatness -

-having faith in himself...

-..and to be able to feel

-that he can take on...

-..and defeat these opponents.

-He isn't afraid of failing.

-"He's scored his fortieth try

-for Wales."

-It's the first Saturday morning

-of 2009.

-It's a frosty morning...

-..and all the games in the valley

-have been called off.

-The best rugby player in the world

-has come to Cwmamman Park...

-..to play touch rugby

-with his mates and the local boys.

-After Christmas, everyone's drunk

-too much and eaten too much.

-It's a chance for the boys to

-come out today and have some fun...

-..and blow away the cobwebs.

-How many Wales players come to play

-touch rugby at their local club?

-It's easier to go to the gym.

-But Shane is here with his friends.

-I don't think there are many people

-who have reached his level...

-..and who are well-known

-at international level...

-..who have stayed close to their

-roots and to their local community.

-He's a nice chap and would do

-anything for this area.

-You can't buy what's available here.

-It's a disadvantaged area -

-there is poverty here.

-Yet so many of the important things

-in life are available in this area.

-You can't put a price

-on those things.

-I think Shane appreciates that.

-It was obvious

-that Shane was talented.

-He had the skills back then.

-He was the smallest in the team,

-but his skills were amazing.

-It was a pleasure

-to watch him play.

-I remember once,

-I was watching in the stand...

-..I'm a bit younger than Shane...

-..he took the ball into his own

-22, chipped it over one player...

-..caught it, chipped it again,

-caught it again and scored.

-That moment sticks out in my mind.

-People started coming to matches...

-..who wouldn't normally have come

-to see Amman play.

-Once the word got out

-that we had this great player...

-..it attracted people to the club.

-I think he's created that kind

-of excitement throughout his career.

-I was in my own 22

-and in a bit of bother.

-Shane picked up the ball and I

-wondered what he was going to do.

-He started to dance around the 22.

-It was a bit like

-that film, Billy Elliot.

-He was dancing and all of a sudden,

-he ran the length of the pitch.

-He was under the posts

-sitting on the ball.

-The referee said, "Sorry boy, you've

-just wasted your time. No try."

-He asked why and the referee said he

-hadn't grounded the ball properly.

-The last thing I used to tell the

-boys as they went on the pitch...

-..was "look after Shane"

-because he was so small.

-I think everyone knew very early on

-that he would go a long way.

-But it's hard to believe sometimes

-just how well he's done...

-..especially in the last year

-with everything he's won.

-But everyone at the club and in

-the village is very proud of him.

-No, he hasn't forgotten his roots.

-No, he hasn't forgotten his roots.

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-He's still the same Shane.

-He hasn't changed

-since he was a boy.

-He's a nice chap. One of the boys.

-Former Neath player, Alan Edmunds,

-was the coach at Amman at the time.

-A message came from him saying that

-he had a very talented player.

-I invited Shane to come and play

-for Neath against Pembrokeshire...

-..one evening as a scrum-half.

-I remember him coming in.

-He was small and weak.

-He played and you could see

-he wasn't a good scrum-half...

-..but he could play.

-He scored a try

-50 yards from the scrum.

-He got under the posts,

-he could sidestep, he was fast...

-..and I thought "wow",

-he's got something.

-But he wasn't a scrum-half.

-I got a phone call

-from Lyn Jones...

-..asking me to do

-a couple of sessions.

-I went down with him...

-..and I ended up signing a contract

-with Neath for four months.

-I was getting paid every week.

-It was a "see how it goes" contract.

-When you see a player like that,

-you have to find a place for them.

-I struggled a bit

-in the beginning...

-..because the standard was much

-higher than what I'd been playing.

-It took me a while to settle.

-The first thing I did was

-take him to Stadium Garage...

-..and got him a new car.

-I had a banged up Fiesta 1.1

-with scratches down the side.

-Very soon, the small lad from Amman

-lit up the Gnoll...

-..with his fantastic running.

-The rugby world began to recognize

-his unique talent.

-I heard from my brother-in-law,

-Dai Beynon, about this new player.

-He said that he was very fast

-but quite small.

-But Dai told me that he thought

-he was like me when I was a boy.

-I remember the first time

-I saw him play for Neath...

-..against Cardiff, Shane had one

-chance with the ball in his hand...

-..and before you knew it,

-he was dodging around.

-He scored a try

-from the halfway line.

-He dodged around all his opponents.

-He made the Cardiff players

-look old and slow.

-As I was watching,

-I thought "Gerald Davies".

-But the general impression was that

-this lad had something special.

-That is, the ability to beat any man

-on the field in a confined space.

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-Can you manage that, guys?

-Careful! We don't want any more

-injuries in the Ospreys.

-So, who is going

-to start me off on 3,000?

-Do I have 4,000?

-Again, I have five on the phone -

-thank you very much indeed.

-Five thousand on the phone.

-I keep things in the house,

-but seeing things being sold...

-..is very hard sometimes.

-But I don't have enough room

-in the house.

-What I want to see

-is multidimensional rugby.

-Multidimensional rugby.

-We don't want plodders.

-We don't want set piece players.

-We want guys who will run all day.

-Earlier this century, Graham Henry

-was the saviour of Welsh rugby.

-And the little wizard had a chance

-to make an impression...

-..in a test game at St Helens.

-I was very nervous because I was

-in the possible probables team.

-So it was a big game.

-I thought this was my chance

-to play for Wales.

-It was a big night for me.

-A number of former Welsh players

-got together at St Helens...

-..to see this test match.

-It was difficult

-going into the match.

-I was trying things but I couldn't

-get my hands on the ball.

-The ball was always going

-the other way down the field.

-So I thought I'd missed my chance.

-But in the second half,

-I looked more for the ball...

-..and things went my way.

-In the end, I had quite a good game.

-On Monday night,

-he called us together...

-..and we sat around

-the dinner table.

-Shane Williams was

-a bit nervous to begin with.

-He has bags of gas.

-Looks comfortable on the ball.

-There were four wingers

-at the trial.

-Thomas was one.

-I'd go for Shane Williams

-as my second one.

-He's got so much pace and he could

-handle international rugby.

-They started reading out

-the names of the first team.

-Three quarters - Gareth Thomas,

-Cardiff, Mark Taylor, Swansea...

-..Jason Jones Hughes, Newport,

-Allan Bateman, Northampton...

-..Dafydd James, Llanelli,

-Shane Williams, Neath.

-He said, "well done,

-congratulations"...

-..and I thought "oh shit!"

-It was a very special feeling.

-After that, I wrote him a letter to

-congratulate him and wish him luck.

-I told him I hoped he'd get

-what he wanted in the future.

-I looked up to Gerald Davies,

-so getting a letter from him...

-..was very special.

-That gave me confidence going into

-the Six Nations matches.

-Coming off the bench in that game

-and playing for Wales...

-..for the first time

-was very difficult.

-I just wanted to stay on the bench.

-I was wearing Dai Young's shirts

-on the day...

-..and they were about

-three sizes too big.

-He was only a kid then.

-But he always had that X factor.

-The ability to beat people - to step

-and create things out of nothing.

-I felt at the time,

-that he was picked for Wales...

-..because the press wanted him

-to be picked.

-The entire nation, almost,

-wanted Shane to play.

-The coach didn't believe in him, but

-they put him on against France...

-..for his first cap

-to keep people quiet.

-He had about one second

-of beating someone on the wing...

-..and the crowd were instantly

-on their feet.

-Such was the relationship

-Shane had with the crowd...

-..that the coach seemed

-almost irrelevant.

-I remember talking to Shane because

-I've got a lot of time for him.

-I told him, "Unless you express

-yourself out there...

-"..you can't get in this team. You

-can't be conservative in this side".

-I started to think that perhaps

-I was good enough to play...

-..at that level and that I could

-compete with the best in the world.

-Within quite a short time, I'd gone

-from Amman United to Neath...

-..and then to Wales

-and all within a year a half.

-Every time I went up a level,

-I was asking myself...

-..whether I was good enough.

-Wales v France

-In the game against France,

-again, it was very tight.

-France put the pressure on.

-Shane can make

-something out of nothing.

-He can do it at any time

-and change the game completely.

-Very unexpected again,

-but he came in defensively...

-..and kicked the ball through.

-The first thing was to try

-and kick whatever I could.

-He moved so quickly

-and the ball was on the ground...

-..and you never know

-how a rugby ball will go.

-It was a perfect bounce.

-The first kick landed in the 22.

-He slowed down.

-He'd been running fast.

-It was those soccer skills again.

-How to control that ball

-and get it over the line...

-..without it going long

-or stopping short...

-..so that he could score.

-He brings some unconventional skills

-to the game...

-..and this sets him apart

-from the others.

-The ball has gone forward.

-Can Shane Williams do it again?

-Shane Williams is on course -

-Shane Williams has scored!

-He knows he's scored.

-He's broken Gareth Thomas' record.

-There was a lot of pressure on me

-the week before that game...

-..from the press.

-Everyone was talking

-about the record.

-Scoring that try

-was quite a relief in the end.

-It was very special because,

-of course, we won the Grand Slam.

-And he's scored against France.

-The only one

-of the main countries...

-..that he hadn't scored

-against before.

-After a season in the Welsh shirt,

-there was a dark period.

-Henry and his successor,

-Steve Hansen said plainly...

-..that the little wizard was

-too small for international rugby...

-..and he needed to grow a bit.

-It certainly came as a blow

-to Shane...

-..and he began to doubt his ability.

-Did he have the right physical

-attributes to compete...

-..at the highest level?

-It was certainly

-a worrying period for him.

-For someone to tell him

-that he was too small...

-..and that he wouldn't be able

-to do this or that...

-..when he knows that he can do

-these things, it's frustrating.

-Graham wasn't happy with his size.

-Shane wanted to grow.

-He tried everything to grow

-and put weight on.

-It was very difficult.

-I tried things like creatine

-and protein shakes.

-I had protein shakes

-with everything.

-I was having six shredded wheat

-in the morning.

-I put on weight.

-I was two stone heavier

-than I had been before the injuries.

-I had problems with my hamstring

-and something else.

-I was trying too hard on the field.

-I was slower

-because I had put on weight.

-I was drinking a lot more

-than I was supposed to.

-I was going out all the time.

-I couldn't do weights

-because of my hamstring...

-..and because I fell off my bike

-and injured my arm.

-So I wasn't doing anything.

-I was just getting up in the morning

-and eating and doing nothing.

-He wasn't depressed exactly...

-..but he was down in the dumps.

-When you grow up as a person, you're

-going to make mistakes in life.

-I remember a lot of things

-that happened to Shane.

-He fell off his bike.

-He had a scrambler and he'd been

-out of rugby for a few months.

-He'd been fighting

-in the village too.

-But these things happen to people.

-They have to get through it...

-..and come out the other side

-as a better person.

-That's what Shane's done.

-I woke up one morning

-and thought "I have to grow up".

-"I have to work hard,

-have the physio...

-"..and get my legs working, so that

-I can do something at the gym...

-"..and get back to training."

-I grew up on that day.

-I wanted to play rugby

-again for Neath...

-..and I wanted

-to play for Wales.

-I wanted to prove

-a lot of people wrong.

-He could have given up

-and never gone any further.

-Or he could choose to prove

-that they were wrong about him.

-Shane made the right decision.

-He had the confidence

-and he wanted to be successful.

-It was in his heart

-and in his blood.

-Thank goodness it was and that he

-felt he could prove them wrong.

-In no time at all,

-I was training again.

-I started playing matches and

-enjoying being on the field.

-I worked hard and it all came back.

-Shane Williams is there.

-He's back.

-Despite shining for Neath, he wanted

-to get back in the Welsh shirt.

-Miraculously, he was chosen

-for the World Cup in 2003...

-..as the third scrum-half

-in Hansen's squad.

-I went to the World Cup

-as a water boy, I think.

-That's all I did there anyway -

-that and holding tackle pads.

-At an unimportant group match,

-Hansen fielded his second team.

-Shane got his chance against

-the favourites, New Zealand.

-I'm pretty sure Hansen didn't

-expect anything from that game.

-So there was no point in wasting

-the first team players...

-..against the All Blacks

-because they'd lose anyway.

-Then there was this performance.

-If you want attention, you have

-to perform against the All Blacks.

-Wales started to play in a way

-we hadn't seen for years.

-They played the rugby

-that comes naturally to us.

-No-one showed their ability

-more than Shane.

-Shane was at the top of his game.

-He was constantly looking

-for something to do.

-No-one could touch him.

-His runs and his sidestepping

-were amazing.

-I saw a chance

-and I went for the gap.

-That's what I did

-every time I got the ball.

-I tried to break through.

-Although Hansen said

-it was all planned...

-..there's no way it was planned.

-Shane never figured much

-in his plans.

-I was just glad to prove a point.

-I could now put two fingers up

-to my detractors.

-The important thing for me was

-that I was playing for Wales again.

-Inevitably, you always want

-the underdog to win.

-On the rugby field,

-the little man is the underdog.

-It was nice to see the little man

-get his moment of glory.

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-Amman is like a twilight zone -

-you can't move out of the area.

-A lot of my friends have moved away.

-But most have returned.

-Something pulls them back to the

-area though they don't know what.

-Not many live in the area

-but everyone enjoys living there.

-Everyone knows each other

-in Glanamman and Garnant.

-But, sometimes they know too much.

-There are gossips in the area

-so you must look out for them.

-You probably get that everywhere.

-I've moved to Betws.

-It's a little outside the area.

-But I'm in Glanamman and Garnant

-almost every day.

-So I get pulled back

-every time I try to leave.

-I've always been close to Mam.

-She's always helped me.

-My parents split up

-when I was young.

-So I was always

-the man in the house.

-So I'm very close to Mam.

-The Ospreys and regional rugby...

-..was the new stage for the little

-wizard after the 2003 World Cup.

-The whole world now appreciated

-his incredible talent.

-The Ospreys' success and ambition

-meant he was happy to stay at home.

-I think Shane's similar

-to Ryan Giggs.

-Ryan Giggs could've gone to Italy

-or Spain and earned more money...

-..or done the same as David Beckham.

-He may not have earned

-as much as some players...

-..but the respect people have

-for Ryan Giggs is huge.

-I think there's a parallel

-with Shane's career.

-If Shane signed for a French club...

-..he could earn

-300,000 - 350,000 a year.

-The Ospreys said I could talk

-to other clubs.

-I went to Castres in France

-to take a look at the set-up.

-He said he was going

-but I knew he wouldn't move there.

-He went for a couple of weeks

-and returned.

-The money they were throwing at me

-was clean off ridiculous.

-There's a lot of money out there.

-He's a home bird.

-He doesn't want to leave.

-He likes wanting to go

-but when it comes to the crunch...

-..he'll never leave.

-He was up against

-the World Champions.

-They play against the best from New

-Zealand and Australia every week.

-Their defence

-is one of the best in the world.

-He had no right to score that try.

-He had no support.

-He couldn't turn to anyone.

-He couldn't do a dummy pass -

-there was no-one around him.

-It isn't always good

-to have too much time.

-I remember the defence were there -

-five or six of them.

-How did he bamboozle all of them

-without being touched?

-I thought I'd get smashed

-in the corner.

-That's the trick - to move inside...

-..slow the defence

-and make them rethink.

-After that, they're not as quick.

-Consequently,

-there was only one winner.

-They'd given up

-as Shane was in control.

-It was stunning. Incredible.

-Poetry on legs!

-The Boks' supporters

-were on their feet.

-They knew there

-was something special about him.

-A chance, a half-chance. He's away.

-Shane Williams.

-Will he get his second try?

-Superb! Magnificent! Marvellous!

-That's what Shane Williams

-gives you.

-I saw Shane shortly after the game.

-I didn't know what to say!

-I was speechless!

-The little wizard

-has lit up the world with his magic.

-But back home in the Amman Valley,

-he's one of the boys.

-You get the feeling that

-he's happiest on his home patch.

-It's a strange dichotomy.

-The quiet man at the bar is

-the best rugby player in the world.

-He's come a long way.

-The boy who was too small

-for international rugby...

-..is the confident performer...

-..whose naked, muscly body

-is on posters across the world.

-Back in Amman Valley he enjoys

-a pint and a cheese roll...

-..with the boys after the game.

-The same man was given a testimonial

-match at the Millennium Stadium.

-It was very special. It's one of

-the most special things I've done.

-The testimonial was exceptional.

-You can't get two men

-from such different backgrounds...

-..Justin Marshall

-and Shane Williams.

-One is a global glamour boy. But

-they mutually respect each other.

-Marshall more than Shane maybe,

-respects what he represents.

-It's been a pleasure to referee him.

-He's an affable person.

-He never moans on the pitch

-and doesn't backchat, as some do!

-Alright?

-Everyone's turned up just to support

-me. My family were up in the boxes.

-Most of the Amman Valley

-had travelled there by bus.

-Georgie didn't know what was

-happening but she enjoyed the day.

-Having her out there and carrying

-her off the pitch was very special.

-I'll never forget that.

-I hope Georgie won't either.

-What a lovely sight.

-It's a family occasion.

-The man himself receives the crowd's

-applause and appreciation.

-Justin Marshall is here, as well

-as players from across the world...

-..just because they want

-to pay tribute to him and thank him.

-You have to have

-that special knack and talent...

-..to find space when it's not there.

-His footwork and speed are the best

-I've seen in the time I've played.

-If I referee a game

-where he gets the ball...

-..I sometimes get as excited

-as the crowd.

-I think, "Where's he going? Where

-does he want me to go to keep up?"

-When he picks up speed

-and beats defenders...

-..there's no hope catching him up

-however fit or fast you are.

-I certainly prefer to have him

-on my team than play against him.

-I think he's the ultimate pro

-and is resilient.

-He's tough - he doesn't often

-get credit for that.

-He's mentally very strong.

-There aren't many players

-who can single-handedly turn a game.

-If I was in a phone booth with him,

-he would still sidestep me...

-..and I probably

-still couldn't catch him.

-Pound for pound, he's one

-of the strongest men playing rugby.

-He's so powerful, very agile,

-quick and has great speed.

-Those are the special qualities that

-Shane has that not many people have.

-He is a winner as an individual

-and as a player.

-Because of that...

-..he's been in very successful

-Welsh teams that have won.

-He was part

-of two Grand Slam-winning teams...

-..and he's entertained

-all the way through.

-It's very unusual to get players

-in the professional era...

-..who tick both boxes.

-The third box

-he ticks remarkably well...

-..is the fact he's a real gentleman

-and a lovely guy.

-I don't think anyone has such quick

-feet. He's so fast off the mark.

-If more players were like him, we

-would win the World Cup every time.

-I don't think I've ever

-been so nervous. I don't know why.

-And I play in big games!

-The IRB Awards

-was the climax to the year.

-Proof that he's overcome

-all obstacles and reached the top.

-The rugby world recognizes the

-greatness of the great entertainer.

-IRB Player of the Year for 2008 -

-Shane Williams.

-The way he conducts himself...

-..his willingness

-to contribute on the field...

-..and his professionalism off it

-are qualities that I respect...

-..and which earn him a lot

-of respect in world rugby circles.

-She's often nervous, as I am.

-But I think Gail

-was more nervous than me.

-Yeah, very nervous!

-I enjoy seeing it,

-and it happens quite often...

-..the big fellas see this little

-fella - "I'll get my hands on him."

-They never quite do it.

-As long

-as he doesn't run through our team!

-You've known each other

-since you were young.

-What it's like to be married

-to the World Player of the Year?

-Lovely!

-A little boy from Amman Valley

-has won the IRB Player of the Year.

-It's amazing.

-Something in him links him

-with men who love rugby...

-..whether they come

-from England, Brynaman or Timbuktu.

-The fact he's small adds to him.

-It'd be a disadvantage to most.

-He's turned a lack of height

-into an advantage.

-Analysis of the Welsh team shows

-where opponents must stop Wales.

-Yet, he can still do it.

-He makes supporters

-to get up from their seats.

-You know

-you're seeing something special.

-It's worth the ticket price alone

-just to watch him play.

-He can light up the play

-in every match.

-If I chose a team of the best

-players I've seen play for Wales...

-..I'm convinced, especially

-after the last twelve months...

-..that the two wingers would be

-Gerald Davies and Shane Williams.

-I can't praise the little man

-from Amman Valley more than that.

-I've been very lucky.

-Looking back, I never thought

-I'd have a year like this.

-I'm very proud of the life I lead

-and where I've come from.

-I wouldn't change a thing.

-I'm still a homeboy.

-I still waste my time

-with Amman United!

-And I still enjoy being there.

-I'll probably never leave the area.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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