Williams expected to retire at the end of the season

The 2008 IRB player of the year, who retired from international rugby in typical fashion by scoring a late try against Australia in December, will break from his Ospreys contract a year early despite the option of continuing into 2013.

Williams has turned out 136 times for RaboDirect PRO12 side Ospreys and will look to cap the season by ousting top-of-the-table Leinster before assessing his options.

Having held discussions with the Welsh region regarding his post-playing days, the 35-year-old has made no secret of his desire to take a coaching post at Ospreys after starting off his career at Neath before the merger with Swansea in 2003.

Wales' record try scorer, with 58 tries in 87 games, also made two British and Irish Lions tours in New Zealand and South Africa and claimed two Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008.

But with his international days already behind him, he will have a big part to play for the Ospreys in the remainder of the season as the Liberty Stadium side get their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign back under way with a trip to Edinburgh on February 10.