Shane Williams, Wales and Ospreys great, to retire

Wing Shane Williams retired from Test rugby with Wales in December

Shane Williams will retire from all rugby at the end of this season, BBC Sport Wales understands.

Wales' record try scorer quit Test rugby in December, with 58 tries in 87 games for his country and two in four Tests for the British and Irish Lions.

Wing Williams, who turns 35 this month, has a contract with the Ospreys until the end of the 2012-13 season.

The Welsh region had also offered Williams a year extension, but he has decided to hang up his boots for good.

Williams signed off from the international stage in typical fashion, scoring a last-gasp try in the 18-24 defeat to Australia in Cardiff on 3 December.

"He has been amazing for Wales, Ospreys and the Lions," Wales skills and kicking coach Neil Jenkins said.

"He is a huge player, a Welsh rugby great, and he will be sorely missed.

"It is difficult - and I have done it myself - when you come to the end of your international career.

"That is what you have played for all your life and Shane is no different to me. He feels the time is right, and only he knows.

"He has had an outstanding career. He helped the youngsters in the squad, taking them to one side and doing different things with them, and he has been a massive help to us on and off the pitch."

At 5ft 7in and 12st 8lb Williams bucked the trend for powerhouse wingers in the professional game and in 2008 was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year.

Williams has already expressed a desire to become a coach and has previously spoken to Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy and elite performance director Andrew Hore about his post-playing career prospects.

But during the forthcoming Six Nations, Williams will join the BBC team of pundits providing expert views and analysis on the championship.

Williams started his junior career as a scrum-half at Amman United RFC, but after going professional with Neath was converted to play on the wing under then-coach Lyn Jones.

When Wales adopted regional rugby in 2003 it was natural that Williams became an Osprey, with the new side created by a merger between Neath and local rivals Swansea.

Williams earned his first cap off the bench against France in Wales' opening game of the 2000 Six Nations, then scored his first Test try in his first full start against Italy.

During his time playing for his country Williams has enjoyed two Grand Slams, the first in 2005 that ended Wales' 27-year wait for a championship clean sweep, and then again in 2008.

He was also called up for two Lions tours, the first in 2005 to New Zealand and then to South Africa in 2009.

Williams played in a warm-up for the Lions against Argentina before they departed for New Zealand, but was then overlooked for the Test side until a five-try haul against Manawatu - equalling a single-game Lions record - saw him selected for the second match with the All Blacks.

Against the Springboks four years later Williams again had to bide his time, but he came off the bench in the second Test and then started the third Test - scoring two tries in a 28-9 win that restored some Lions pride.

To date Williams has played 136 times for the Ospreys, scoring 54 tries in the process for the Swansea-based side.

Watch a special programme dedicated to Shane Williams on BBC Two Wales, Friday 3 February 2100 GMT.