Williams crowned player of year, best try for O'Driscoll

Wales winger Shane Williams is celebrating after being crowned as the IRB Player of the Year, while Brian O'Driscoll took the gong for Best Try.

Williams saw off competition from Wales captain Ryan Jones, New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter, Scotland captain Mike Blair and Italy skipper Sergio Parisse to land the award at a gala dinner in London.

The International Rugby Players’ Association Try of the Year was awarded to O'Driscoll for his "wonderful" score against Australia in June.

Williams scored six tries in the 2008 Six Nations and was named player of the tournament as Wales won the Grand Slam.

The 31-year-old Ospreys player broke Gareth Thomas’ try-scoring record in the title-clinching victory over France and has scored 43 tries in 60 Tests for his country – 14 of them in his last 13 Tests – after making his debut against Italy in 2000.

Swansea-born Williams has also represented the Lions, winning caps against Argentina and New Zealand three years ago.

Williams could not contain his pride at having scooped the award and said: “It’s quite mad to be honest.”