Former Welsh star winger Shane Williams had previously announced his retirement from rugby. It was widely expected that his recent game for The Barbarians against would be his last.

However, it would seem that he has had a change of heart and is now looking at playing some rugby in Japan.

bbc

The 35-year-old former Ospreys wing is expected to sign for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Division Two of the Japanese League on a one year deal.

Williams scored twice in his final competitive game as Ospreys won the Pro12 league final by beating Leinster.

Williams’ final UK appearance was in Barbarians’ loss to Wales last week.

Williams announced his retirement from rugby in February after he turned down Ospreys’ offer to extend his playing career with the Welsh region to a 10th season.

The 2008 International Rugby Board player of the year 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.

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.

The double-Grand Slam winner was also Ospreys’ record try-scorer, with 57 touch downs in 141 matches, and scored late on in his last game for both club and country.

Williams was expected to continue his association with the Ospreys next season by taking up an ambassadorial role with the Liberty Stadium club but it is unclear if he will still undertake that role.

Williams is second in international rugby’s all-time try-scoring list behind Australian wing David Campese and is to follow former Ospreys team-mates Jerry Collins and Filo Tiatia, who joined Yamaha Jubilo and Toyota Verblitz respectively in 2011, to Japan.

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