Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol
Gareth Roberts welcomes Shane to his star-studded tv team
Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol: Iwerddon v Cymru
Sunday 5 February 14:15
Y Clwb Rygbi – Cymru v Yr Alban (Under 20)
Friday 10 February 19:15
Rugby legend Shane Williams is set to join S4C’s Six Nations rugby presentation team.
The Amman Valley wing wizard joins a team that includes six former international players, the main commentator Huw Llywelyn Davies, touchline reporter Dot Davies and anchor presenter Gareth Roberts.
The Wales and Ospreys winger will make his debut as a pundit on the BBC Wales produced Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol on S4C in Wales’ first Six Nations’ match against Ireland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Sunday, 5 February.
In addition to broadcasting all Wales’ games live, S4C will also televise two of Wales’ Under 20 matches, including Wales v Scotland from Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay on Friday, 10 February.
Shane, who had 85 Wales caps and scored 58 tries before his recent retirement, joins international players such as Gwyn Jones, Gareth Edwards, Brynmor Williams, Derwyn Jones, Nicky Robinson, and Dafydd Jones for the Six Nations Championship which runs until Saturday, 17 March 2012.
“People did not expect to see Shane Williams in the Six Nations Championship this year – but now he’s set for his first cap with Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol. As they say in Star Wars, Welcome to the Dark Side, Shane!” says presenter Gareth Roberts.
“Shane’s record as a player says it all. We have a very strong presentation team, which includes Gareth Edwards, one of the rugby greats of a previous generation. Now we have one of the greats from the current generation.”
Shane, who won his first cap nearly 11 years ago in 2000, is part of the presentation team at the Ireland and England matches and will report from Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan training HQ for the home games against Scotland, Italy and France.
“It will be strange not to see him running onto the field and I’m sure that it will be odd for him to be looking on, not being able to do anything to change the result. The coaching team will certainly miss him as he has that rare ability to change games.”
Gareth believes that this year’s tournament is among the most interesting and open in years.
“Wales are among the favourites after their heroic performances in the World Cup, but it could put additional pressure on them too,” says the experienced presenter, originally from Anglesey, but now living in Cardiff.
“Having a new coach can lift a team, as Wales showed in 2008. After a disastrous World Cup a few months earlier, Wales under Warren Gatland went on to win the Grand Slam,” says Gareth.
“The new coaching teams behind England and France could well inspire their players. France, in particular, could be a very potent force under Philippe Saint-André’s leadership.”
Gareth believes that Wales’ campaign will depend a great deal on the outcome of the first match in Ireland.
“It will be tough out there, especially as the Irish provinces have done so well this season in the Heineken Cup and the Rabo Direct Pro-12. They will want revenge after the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Wales. We must remember that some of Wales’ key players are injured. And without Shane of course, the young players will have to provide the unexpected.”