SHANE Williams has finalised a deal that will see him feature in a new role at the Ospreys next season.

Welsh rugby's most celebrated player of modern times is to hang up his playing boots at the end of the season and will move to a fresh job as an ambassador for the region, the post running initially until the summer of 2014.

While Williams will continue playing until May, the end of an era is in sight for a player who has been with the Ospreys since their inception and made 136 appearances for them, scoring a record 54 tries.

In a statement, the former Celtic champions say that next season and the year after Williams "will promote rugby in and around the region while working in conjunction with the Ospreys' existing and future commercial partners, local, national and international.

"In addition to the ambassadorial role, he will take up a similar post with the Ospreys' long-term partners Cuddy Group, alongside his media commitments and personal business interests."

Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy said: "Shane has been a tremendous servant to the region throughout his long career and I've no doubt whatsoever that he can be an even bigger success off the field than he was on it. I'm looking forward to working closely with Shane the businessman for the next 15 years, just as I have with Shane the rugby player for the last 15."

Williams, who is in America on holiday, said: "My future with the Ospreys was never in doubt.

"Things like this take time to sort out, but I'm just delighted that I'm going to continue being a part of the region I love, the Ospreys."