Shane Williams may have won everything that was going in 2008, but he also kick-started his 2009 campaign on a winning note. The IRB Player of the Year and the Welsh Sports Personality of 2008 was crowned the Rugby Writers' Club Player of the Year.
Shane Williams may have won everything that was going in 2008, but he also kick-started his 2009 campaign on a winning note. The IRB Player of the Year and the Welsh Sports Personality of 2008 was crowned the Rugby Writers' Club Player of the Year this month at a gala dinner in London.
"It was the shortest meeting I think I've ever attended to choose the winner of our Pat Marshall Memorial Award," said RWC chairman Chris Hewett, of The Independent.
"Shane had a blistering year and was quite rightly chosen as the World Player of the Year by the IRB. He set the Six Nations alight as Wales won the Grand Slam, steered the Ospreys to victory in the EDF Energy Cup and then scored two never-to-be-forgotten tries for Wales on tour in South Africa.
"We've had some great Welsh winners of this trophy in the past - Mervyn Davies, Phil Bennett, JPR Williams, Jonathan Davies, Rob Norster and Rob Howley - and Shane ranks alongside them and the many other great names from the world game over the past 30 years."
While Shane took the top honour on the night, the rugby writers also presented a special joint award to the England and Lions back row legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill. Munster and Ireland No 8 Anthony Foley also picked up a tankard to celebrate his huge contribution to club and country, as did Worcester Warriors prop Tony Windo.
"All we need now is for Shane to work his magic for the Lions in South Africa this summer and we'll have him back again next year," added Hewett.
The standard has been set!