Williams scoops top IRB prize
Shane Williams scoops IRB world player of the year award for 2008
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Monday, 24, Nov 2008 10:40
Wales and Ospreys winger Shane Williams has been named as the International Rugby Board's world player of the year at an awards ceremony in London.
Williams pipped his own captain Ryan Jones, Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair, Italy flanker Sergio Parisse and New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter to the prize at the gala dinner at London's Old Billingsgate on Sunday evening.
The diminutive winger, 31, played a key role in Wales' grand slam-winning Six Nations campaign earlier this year - scoring six tries in five matches to become his country's top try-scorer of all time ahead of Gareth Thomas.
"It's quite mad to be honest," he said upon receiving the trophy.
"It's been a hell of a year and this has just capped it off really. It's the biggest honour you can get as an individual in rugby and it's totally overwhelming.
"It's nice to be recognised and to be recognised alongside the likes of Bryan Habana, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and I could go on. It's just very humbling indeed."
Williams is the first Welshman to win the award and in doing so he prevented a clean sweep for the All Blacks, who won the team of the year prize at the same time as head coach Graham Henry was given the coach of the year trophy.
The IRB junior player of the year went to New Zealand's Luke Braid, while another Kiwi - DJ Forbes - won the sevens player of the year award.
Full list of IRB award winners:
IRB Player of the Year: Shane Williams (Wales)
IRB Team of the Year: New Zealand
IRB Coach of the Year: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
IRB Junior Player of the Year: Luke Braid (New Zealand)
IRB Sevens Player of the Year: DJ Forbes (New Zealand)
Spirit of Rugby Award: Roelien Muller and Patrick Cotter
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Sir Nicholas Shehadie
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service: Andre Watson
IRB International Women's Personality of the Year: Carol Isherwood
IRB Development Award: Tag Rugby Development Trust and Martin Hansford
IRPA Special Merit Award: Agustin Pichot
IRPA Try of the Year: Brian O'Driscoll; Australia v Ireland
IRB Hall of Fame inductees: 1888 Natives team of New Zealand and Joe Warbrick; Melrose and Ned Haig; Dr Jack Kyle; Hugo Porta; and Philippe Sella.