Williams Scores in Farewell Game

Shane Williams scored a dramatic late try and conversion on what was billed as his farewell game for the Ospreys before retirement.

But the 34-year-old's try may lead to the Ospreys hosting a home game in the Pro12 play-offs.

The Dragons were in the game until the 78th minute when the Ospreys were awarded a second penalty try.

And Williams prised open the Dragons's stubborn defence before converting the injury-time score.

Williams' effort echoed his final Wales appearance , when he went over after 80 minutes had passed in a 24-18 defeat by Australia in December.

But on this occasion, Williams' try brought the reward of the bonus point that could prove so crucial as they head into the league's final round on Saturday, 5 May when they travel to Italian strugglers Aironi.

The Dragons' preparations were hit by a sickness bug among the squad in the build-up and skipper Luke Charteris' late withdrawal because of a shoulder injury.

But the visitors showed little sign of the troubles that preceded the kick-off.

The Dragons lived up to the Ospreys' expectations by putting up a better show than Cardiff Blues mustered in the hosts' previous outing.

Despite dominating the opening 10 minutes and creating clean line breaks for wing Hanno Dirksen, flanker Ryan Jones, lock Ian Evans, the Ospreys fell behind to Robling's first penalty.

Amid the Ospreys early lack of a killer instinct, the Dragons could point to Toby Faletau's try-saving tackle on Hibbard.

Biggar and Robling exchanged penalties before Ryan Jones stole over from a close-range ruck in the 20th minute for the first try and the Ospreys' fly-half converted.

Dragons wing Aled Brew brought Dirksen down by launching his body at the his opponent's legs to again deny the hosts.

But the Ospreys' pressure at series of close-range scrums told as first Nathan Buck was sin-binned before referee Nigel Owens' patience wore so thin he awarded a penalty try.

Biggar converted, but the hosts were unable to profit from Buck's absence either side of the break and it fell to Robling to again frustrate the Ospreys with two more penalties that left the outcome finely balanced.

Home fly-half Biggar was next to the sin-bin after he was judged to have illegally halted Brew's attempt at a tap penalty.

And before any more scores, replacement Dragons prop Dan Way was also yellow-carded.

In Way's absence, the Ospreys claimed another penalty try from a scrum.

Then Williams broke free to the delight of the biggest rugby crowd at the Liberty Stadium this season, 14,478.

Ospreys: Ross Jones, Hanno Dirksen, Tom Isaacs, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric.

Replacements: Ashley Beck for Isaacs (60), Kahn Fotuali'i for Webb (41), Paul James for Bevington (63), Tom Smith for Evans (60).

Not Used: Baldwin, Rees, King, M Morgan.

Sin Bin: Biggar (50).

Dragons: Hallam Amos; Tonderai Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (capt), Aled Brew; Lewis Robling, Wayne Evans; Nathan Williams, Steve Jones, Nathan Buck, Robert Sidoli, Jevon Groves, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans.

Replacements: Martyn Thomas for Chavhanga (48), Joe Bedford for W Evans (63), Phil Price for N Williams (63), Sam Parry for S Jones (56), Dan Way for N Buck (56).

Not Used: Coombs, Brown, Leach.

Sin Bin: Buck (34), Way (69).

Att: 14,478

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy, Wayne Davies (WRU)

Citing commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)

TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

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Retired Burns May Face Surgery

Wales international Lloyd Burns is facing the possibility of heart surgery after being forced to retire from rugby.

The 27-year-old hooker was a World Cup squad member in New Zealand last autumn and won seven caps, four of them during that tournament. 

The Newport Gwent Dragons forward has been sidelined since January due to a neck injury that forced him out of this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship, when Wales won their second title and Grand Slam of coach Warren Gatland's four-year reign.

But the Dragons revealed that 'ongoing tests' from the neck problem have shown aorta damage, resulting in immediate retirement, with possible heart surgery to follow. 

The aorta is the body's largest artery. Dragons rugby director Robert Beale said: 'Everything Lloyd has achieved in life he has earned through hard work and dedication. 

'His enforced retirement from the game has come as a massive shock to Lloyd and his family and will resonate throughout the rugby world. 

'I am personally relieved that this serious condition has been identified off the field of play. 

Some of Burns' Wales colleagues paid tribute to him on Twitter, including captain Sam Warburton.'I would therefore like to thank our medical team at the Dragons, staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and University of Wales, Cardiff for all their efforts in ensuring Lloyd has, and will continue to receive, the highest standards of care.'

Warburton said: 'Terrible news, great player and guy, hope recovery goes well.'

Centre Jamie Roberts, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, tweeted: 'Sad news about Lloyd Burns' retirement from rugby....great player, good bloke....here's to a speedy recovery.'

Burns' Wales and Dragons team-mate Dan Lydiate tweeted: 'Absolutely gutted for my mate Lloyd Burns forced to retire top player but more importantly top bloke.'

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, said: 'Absolutely gutted to hear the sad news Lloyd Burns forced to retire. Great player and a fantastic bloke.'

Burns made his Wales debut against the Barbarians in Cardiff last June, going on as a second-half replacement for Huw Bennett. At the time, he was dual-registered with the Dragons and this season's British and Irish Cup finalists Cross Keys. 

He also played in two World Cup warm-up Tests last August, then went to the tournament itself as one of three hookers in Gatland's squad, featuring alongside Bennett and Ken Owens.

Burns worked as a bricklayer before moving full-time into rugby and enjoying a rapid rise to Test recognition. He started the 81-7 World Cup victory over Namibia in New Plymouth and appeared as a replacement in the pool games against Samoa and Fiji either side of that fixture, scoring a try when Fiji were routed 66-0. 

What proved to be his final cap came in the bronze medal match against Australia in Auckland, a game that Wales lost 21-18. He was subsequently advised to take a minimum three-month break from rugby after a neck problem surfaced, which ended his Six Nations hopes this season.

Bennett, Ken Owens and former Wales captain Matthew Rees, who missed the entire World Cup because of a neck complaint, were Gatland's Six Nations hookers.

Lydiate Named 6 Nations Best

Dan Lydiate has been named RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship for 2012 after his outstanding displays in Wales' Grand Slam triumph. 

The Newport Gwent Dragons blindside missed the opening win over Ireland in Dublin but returned with a man-of-the-match display in the win over Scotland, before following that up with another Herculean effort in the championship-clinching victory over France last weekend. 

The 23-year-old beat Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton to top spot after securing over 25 per cent of the public vote which attracted over 30,000 votes. Italy's captain Sergio Parisse was third. 

The 12-man shortlist for the award, which was won by Italy's Andrea Masi last year and is made up of players who receive man-of-the-match awards during the tournament, was dominated by members of the triumphant Welsh squad, with Sam Warburton, Mike Phillips and Alex Cuthbert joining Lydiate among the nominees. 

Lydiate's achievement matches those of Martyn Williams and Shane Williams, who won the award in Wales' previous Grand Slam seasons in 2005 and 2008. 

'I am really surprised to be honest. I am genuinely chuffed to bits,' said Lydiate. 

'It tops off an amazing competition for me and for Wales. 

'To be part of such a talented Wales team and win the Grand Slam in Cardiff on Saturday was incredible in itself but to then be voted player of the championship is absolutely unbelievable. 

'It is a massive honour to win, especially given the quality of the other players up for the award. Thanks to everyone who voted for me, it means a lot.'