And former Wales coach Graham Henry picked up a knighthood in his native New Zealand for helping to guide the All Blacks to World Cup glory on home soil. There was also a CBE for Cardiff Blues chairman Peter Thomas for his services to entrepreneurism, charity and rugby.
Williams, the 36-year-old Cardiff Blues icon, picked up his award after reaching 99 Welsh caps during the year and taking his complete Test tally to 103 in one of the great rugby careers. Although he just missed out on selection for what would have been a fourth World Cup, he is still playing for the Blues this season..
Williams has played club rugby for Pontypridd, Cardiff and the Cardiff Blues Region after winning international caps at every junior level for Wales.
He currently has 99 senior Wales caps after playing in his first international in 1996. He has also toured with the British and Irish Lions in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa winning four Lions caps.
In 2005 he was named the RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship. Outside rugby he is a prominent supporter of the Cancer Care Cymru charity.
Williams was joined by Scottish rugby’s record breaking full back, Chris Paterson, in receiving an MBE. The 33-year-old Edinburgh star stepped down from international rugby in December amassing 809 points in 109 internationals for Scotland, both national records.
