Shane Williams: "I wouldn't have made it in this era."

Beyond the Breakdown is a podcast rooted in Wales’ rugby clubs, with legends sharing stories of life in and beyond the game, and the challenges facing our communities and clubs.

In our first episode we talk to Shane Williams, the epitome of what this podcast series is about – people who are rooted in, working hard for, and championing their communities.

Shane was the face of rugby in Wales for so long, but he was always the boy from the Amman. World player of the year! 87 caps and 58 tries for Wales , and 4 Lions caps. But Shane’s story is much more than these moments in the spotlight, even though he’s had his fair share. It’s a story of belief, belief in himself in the face of crushing setbacks, it's a story of his love for where he comes from, and a driving motivation to give back to a community he is so passionate about.

In this episode we discuss the need to ensure the future of our game is rooted where it begins, at home, in our communities, with the fans . At the moment the clubs in our communities are struggling to heat showers, keep the lights on and stay afloat, but these are spaces that we need to fight for, so they survive and thrive for all the generations coming through.

And of course we delve into highs and lows of Shane's career, the things he remembers and the lessons learnt.

It was a privilege to spend time with Shane discussing the game and his home club. We really hope you enjoy it too!