Shane Williams

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Shane Williams news, views, opinion and other content.

Women’s contracts mean their game can take off

16 January 2022 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Chance to better themselves: Kelsey Jones of Wales is tackled by Ireland‘s Hannah Tyrrell and Claire Molloy during the […]

Marcus reminds me of great King John

16 January 2022 2 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WHAT a shame there were no fans at the Arms Park to watch that great European clash between Cardiff and Harlequins. It was […]

Ring-rusty stars may struggle in Six Nations

9 January 2022 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND All the international coaches used to want to wrap their star players in cotton wool ahead of the Six […]

Hookers and kickers are getting away with murder

9 January 2022 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS HANDS UP if you are tired of seeing scrum halves putting the ball into the second row. That is one of the bug-bears […]

Irish are my favourites but it’s so tough to call

2 January 2022 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Impressive: Ireland dominated the All Blacks in November PICTURE: Getty Images In 34 days’ time the 2022 Six Nations […]

Strong start, good finish… shame about the middle!

26 December 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND It’s that time of year again when everyone is handing out awards. So, I thought I’d do the same […]

Regions let down by double standards

19 December 2021 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND European rugby is in chaos and it’s hard to escape the feeling that the Welsh sides have had the […]

Galvanised Ospreys can spring a surprise

12 December 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND I WAS with James Hook at the start of last week when he mentioned Ifan Phillips’ accident. It was […]

The cooped-up players deserve our sympathy

5 December 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WALES’ four regions begin their European campaigns this weekend and they will head into the Champions Cup and Challenge […]

URC must be transparent on what happens next

28 November 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND In limbo: Cardiff and Scarlets players do not know when they can return to Wales FOR the Scarlets and […]

I give Wales top points for showing true heart

21 November 2021 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Man of the match: Taine Basham PICTURE: Getty Images Teammates congratulate Rhys Priestland after kicking the winning penalty When […]

Adams is an out-and-out winger, keep him there

14 November 2021 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Has his work cut out: Josh Adams PICTURE: Getty Images I WAS as shocked as everyone else when I […]

Wales threw away 20 points – that’s criminal

31 October 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Big doubt for the Boks: Alun Wyn Jones walks off injured PICTURE: Getty Images Rhys Priestland In the end […]

To win, Wales will need a performance of the ages

24 October 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WHEN Steve Hansen picked me to face New Zealand at the 2003 World Cup, he told me in no […]

Call up for Young is common sense now

17 October 2021 3 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Heading home: Wasps flanker Thomas Young deserves his call up to Wales squad PICTURE: Getty Images Whichever way you […]

Scott’s renaissance is worthy of a Test recall

10 October 2021 2 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WALES are set to confirm their squad for a humdinger of an autumn series this week and Scott Williams […]

Wayne Pivac has to nail key combos for World Cup | Shane Williams

3 October 2021 0 comments

I WAS sat down watching Scrum V with a cup of tea last Sunday when Wayne Pivac made a surprise appearance on my TV. One […]

Women’s team needs increased funding to compete

3 October 2021 1 comment

SHANE WILLIAMS I REALLY hope this autumn can represent a clean slate for Wales women’s side. The team has had an awful time of it […]

Battle begins for most coveted jersey in Wales

26 September 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND THE hairs are standing up on the back of my neck at the prospect of going to Rodney Parade […]

Limiting contact training is right step

26 September 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS I WAS fascinated by World Rugby‘s report this week which was revealed to help protect player welfare. It suggested limiting full-contact training to […]

Ospreys have the talent to head regions’ challenge

19 September 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND So, a new season of club rugby is finally upon us and it’s a new era for the four […]

I fear these World 12s are only about making money | Shane Williams

12 September 2021 1 comment

The new World 12s proposal has been the talk of rugby and while we must reserve a bit of judgement until we learn more detail, […]

Carnage among No.7s makes Navidi key man

5 September 2021 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND ONE of the biggest things that has gone under the radar this summer is the shoulder injury to Justin […]

Defibrillators are essential, every club should have one | Shane Williams

29 August 2021 1 comment

An issue that is personal for Shane Williams that has raised awareness once again after the passing of Alex Evans at local Welsh club Cwmllynfell

I can’t wait for Gareth Anscombe to return, but go slowly! | Shane Williams

22 August 2021 1 comment

The Wales fly-half is back in full training at the Ospreys ahead of the autumn

Silence over Erasmus punishment is deafening | Shane Williams

15 August 2021 0 comments

Mixed messages from World Rugby have given the wrong impression of what rugby’s core values are, writes Shane Williams

Wales can feed off grassroots energy | Shane Williams

15 August 2021 1 comment

Can the feel-good return of rugby to the grassroots permeate to the top level of the game in Wales?

Morne Steyn did same to me 12 years ago | Shane Williams

8 August 2021 0 comments

Shane Williams knows exactly how the 2021 Lions will have been feeling once they collected their thoughts back in the dressing room

Liam Williams and Josh Adams must start in the final showdown | Shane Williams

1 August 2021 0 comments

I was surprised by the selections of Stuart Hogg and Duhan van der Merwe for the First Test. But to be fair to the Scotland […]

Lions character shone through at the end | Shane Williams

25 July 2021 0 comments

Shane Williams points out the big calls Warren Gatland got right in the second Test

Too many errors, but future’s bright for Wales | Shane Williams

18 July 2021 0 comments

Shane Williams’ verdict of the loss to Argentina at the Principality

Daly must start at 13 if we want to beat the Boks | Shane Williams

18 July 2021 0 comments

The Saracens & England back has shown himself to still be as adroit at outside centre as at his time at Wasps, writes Shane Williams

Back-line needs a platform to play | Shane Williams

11 July 2021 0 comments

Wales failed to front up against the Pumas, writes Shane Williams

I’m opting for Josh and Duhan on wings, Liam at 15 | Shane Williams

11 July 2021 1 comment

Shane Williams selects the back three he would go for to face the Springboks in the first Test

I fear it looks quite serious for Leigh | Shane Williams

4 July 2021 0 comments

THERE is no other way for me to start other than by wishing Leigh Halfpenny all the best. For his 100th Test to end like […]

Try-machine Josh just can’t stop scoring | Shane Williams

4 July 2021 0 comments

I GOT more and more nervous as the second half of the British & Irish Lions game went on. It was nothing to do with […]

Biggar will have lead role to play in Alun Wyn’s absence | Shane Williams

27 June 2021 1 comment

The last thing that Warren Gatland thought he’d have to do before flying to South Africa this week was appointing a new captain. If it […]

Not a fan of Springboks joining our Six Nations | Shane Williams

20 June 2021 0 comments

I’M old enough to have played in the Five Nations before it expanded to six teams with Italy’s arrival in 2001 and to me it […]

Free to view games vital for rugby’s resurgence | Shane Williams

20 June 2021 0 comments

AFTER a horror year or more of Covid-19 we all know rugby has its financial challenges. We also know the way our sport is being […]

Wayne’s got a way to put Wales out in front | Shane Williams

13 June 2021 1 comment

IN the northern hemisphere we have always been one or two steps behind teams in the south. That’s just a fact and it applies to […]

Rainbow Cup just isn’t worth injury risk | Shane Williams

6 June 2021 1 comment

The Rainbow Cup gives no reason for players who received Lions call-ups to go all-out and risk injury

Hearing fans’ roar makes you feel like Superman | Shane Williams

6 June 2021 0 comments

WHEN I played in front of 75,000 screaming Welsh fans at Principality Stadium it used to make me feel like Superman. I felt eight feet […]

It’s ruthless but Booth can’t afford to gamble | Shane Williams

30 May 2021 0 comments

Shane Williams reacts to the release of club stalwart Scott Williams and Cory Allen by Ospreys this week

Such a shame I opted for German over French at school! | Shane Williams

30 May 2021 2 comments

After turning down Toulon in his playing career, Shane Williams is now hoping to be able to commentate on the Top 14 as it returns to broadcast in the UK