Shane: ‘I was ready to quit rugby’

Mar 23 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

SHANE WILLIAMS has revealed he could easily have quit rugby before he became Wales’ record try scorer.

The Wales and Lions wing passed former captain Gareth Thomas when he grabbed his 41st try against France last week – but he contemplated ending his career in 2002 as he battled a recurring hamstring problem and was out in the international wilderness.

“I was fed up and felt like quitting,” said Williams. “I wasn’t playing for Wales and I wasn’t happy.

“There were definitely times when I thought it wasn’t worth it and I was convinced I wouldn’t play for Wales again.

“I’d just had a gutsful of rugby.”

But the Ospreys flier believes being written off and a finely- honed stubborn streak helped him resurrect his Test career.

“You have to be stubborn and bloody-minded,” said Williams. “I’ve had injuries, lost form and not been picked. I felt hard done by when Steve Hansen wouldn’t pick me but now I know I wasn’t good enough and wasn’t fit enough.

“I’d torn my hamstring four times in a season and there were reasons for that. I was a bit immature but bucked my ideas up because I wanted to play for Wales again.

“Some players always get picked, even when they aren’t playing well. I have never been one of those. I have to play well or I won’t be picked.”

Williams was thrown a lifeline by Hansen, the former Wales coach, before the 2003 World Cup in Australia. He grabbed it with both hands and hasn’t looked back.

He, though, is the first to admit that the arrival of his 17-month- old daughter, Georgie, has allowed him to put rugby into context.

“There are more important things in life than rugby,” said Williams. “My family and my daughter mean a lot more to me.

“I think that is a change for me and helped me on the field.

“Making a mistake or dropping a ball doesn’t really matter compared to being there for them.”