British & Irish Lion and 87-capped Welsh international Shane Williams M.B.E. put on a platinum performance to light up the Torch Theatre on Saturday (Apr 4), writes Jonathan Twigg.

The 2008 IRB Player of the Year and record Welsh try scorer with 58 touchdowns - he made his debut in 2000 against France - regaled his stories through compère, actor Phil Owen, to a packed auditorium spanning both genders, with those of the third generation in the guise of Glyn Cole (Cresselly Cricket) warmly applauding the Amman Valley flyer's storyboard alongside up-and-coming teenage sportsmen in Billy Martin (Golf) and Bobby Parr (Scarlets U16s Rugby).

Williams scored two Test tries for the Lions having been selected to tour New Zealand in 2005 and South Africa four years later, the first-language Welsh speaker starting out in rugby in 1997 at local club Amman United after he was cajoled away from football where he played for Cwmamman United. A year after his first game for 'The Amman' he signed for Neath, the transfer fee that of six tackle bags, Williams making his debut against Pembrokeshire before wearing the Ospreys shirt for nine years after regional rugby kicked off in 2003, totalling 270 appearances in the 'all-black shirt' of both clubs. He ended his professional playing career with Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars in Japan, and the circle was completed when he returned to his home club, scoring a try when they won the WRU Bowl at the Millennium Stadium in 2017.

Owen ensured the evening flowed with anecdotes on Williams, the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year in 2007 who received his M.B.E. for services to rugby in the Queen's 2012 Birthday Honours List, as well as information regarding his rugby career which included wearing the Barbarians shirt.

Williams himself paid tribute to his schooldays where he excelled as a gymnast, which he believes was key to him retaining his speed and fitness - bar a few hamstring injuries - although the ice therapy sessions undertaken in preparation for World Cups he endured rather than enjoyed!

The evening also raised money to support the Wales Deaf Rugby team at their World Cup through a raffle, and Owen's skills extended to that of auctioneer for items ranging from signed shirts, balls and photographs, all snaffled up by Pembrokeshire sporting enthusiasts.

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