Wales' surprise Grand Slam win, Munster's epic Heineken Cup triumph, the popular rehabilitation of Richie McCaw and the re-emergence of Wasps' fighting spirit were among the ten highlights of 2008.

Final reckoning: Munster players jump for joy at the end of their 16-13 Heineken Cup final victory over Toulouse

1. Munster's Heineken Cup triumph

Never mind the final 16-13 victory itself against Toulouse a cramped, nervy, limited affair, with Munster running down the clock from what seemed like the first minute. Take delight in the journey itself, not the ultimate destination. Two pool defeats, to Wasps and Clermont, then palpitations in the semi-finals against London Irish. Yet Munster prevailed. Once again, it was an heroic odyssey.

2. Wales' Grand Slam

This one came from a clear blue sky. Wales had finished the World Cup in disarray. Step forward, Warren Gatland, Step forward, Shaun Edwards. Gatland and his coaching chums set the standards. The players, led by the ever-impressive, Ryan Jones, responded. Trailing 16-6 at half-time in the opening game at Twickenham, things looked rosy for Brian Ashton and England, and predictably bleak for Gatland and Wales. How that scenario changed. Wales went on to win, 26-19, Gatland didn't look back and Ashton was sacked.

3. Richie McCaw

How the All Black captain suffered for the cause. How low and belittled he must have felt on returning to New Zealand after his country's ignominious exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup. McCaw licked his wounds and kept his counsel. New Zealanders admired his decency. By the end of the 2008 we were all admiring the excellence of his play as well as the strength of his character. Player of the Year in my eyes.

4. Wasps' resurgence

England's champion club were briefly bottom of the Premiership pile during the autumn. Their cause looked doomed. Then the cavalry returned from the World Cup. Then the adrenalin kicked in, the fighting spirit came to the fore, and Wasps only lost two more games in the entire season. Their 26-16 victory over Leicester in the Guinness Premiership final in front of a world record crowd for a club game of 81,600, was well-merited. It was their fourth title in six years.

5. Shane Williams

The Wales and Ospreys wing was not far behind McCaw when it came to claiming individual gongs. There's something heroic about Williams' presence on a rugby field. In an age of muscled-up gym monkeys, in an era where size and bulk might appear to be everything, Williams is proof that small can still be beautiful. Williams six tries were instrumental in helping his country to a Grand Slam.

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