![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS359400388.jpg\")
Warren Gatland(Image: PA Wire)<\/p>\nShane Williams is one of the most recognisable faces in Welsh rugby and now finds himself giving back to the game Warren Gatland(Image: PA Wire)<\/p>\n
Wales legend Shane Williams has opened up on life after rugby \u2014 and the infamous story of how he once drunkenly offered Warren Gatland<\/a> out for a fight.<\/p>\n A three-time Lions tourist, Williams won 87 caps for Wales and scored a record 58 tries for his country, securing two Six Nations Grand Slams along the way. He was also named World Player of the Year in 2008. For the Ospreys<\/a>, of course, he was a central figure during their most successful era, winning two Celtic League titles and the EDF Energy Cup.<\/p>\n His dazzling footwork and ability to turn games made him one of the sport\u2019s most feared wingers, adored by Welsh fans and respected across the rugby world. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n The former wing is now coaching at grassroots level, helping out at his son\u2019s under-16s side, Amman United, as well as at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman. But the 48-year-old has also been looking back on his glittering career and one of its most surprising tales.<\/p>\n Speaking on this week\u2019s episode of The Overlap Rugby<\/a>, Williams recalled how Gatland\u2019s arrival as Wales head coach in 2008 proved a turning point, but also led to an awkward encounter after that famous opening win over England at Twickenham<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe funny thing was with Gats, the first Six Nations<\/a> game we had was against England in 2008. Gats said if we beat England, we are going to win the Grand Slam,\u201d Williams explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went up to Twickenham, won the game and we were like, \u2018this guy is a genius!\u2019 It wasn\u2019t six months ago we were losing to Fiji in the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the game, Gats loves a beer, the social side, he told us to have a beer. Someone put some cans on the bus and I had drunk far too much beer by the time we got back to Cardiff<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next morning Shanks [Tom Shanklin] says to me, \u2018Good night last night, Shane? \u2026 I just wondered if you remembered offering Warren Gatland out for a fight?\u2019 I had no recollection of this.<\/p>\n \u201cI went up and spoke to Gats and told him I was really sorry. Gats is a happy-go-lucky guy and he said, \u2018What are we talking about, Shane?\u2019 \u2026 Then as he showed me out, he said, \u2018But Shane, if you call me a fat, useless, Kiwi p***k again, you\u2019re not going to play for Wales!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Williams laughed as he retold the story, calling Gatland a \u201ctop guy\u201d who loved the joke and saw no malice in it. \u201cIt kind of broke the ice with us really,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Williams remains one of the greatest players to ever pull on a Wales jersey. Standing at just 5ft 7in, he defied the odds to become a giant of the international game.<\/p>\n Now, more than a decade since his final Wales appearance in 2011, Williams is deeply rooted in grassroots rugby. He coaches his son\u2019s Amman United U16s team as well as youngsters at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman, the same school<\/a> he once attended.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Wales-v-Samoa-Rugby-World-Cup-2011.jpg\")
(Image: Ben Evans\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n