WALES rugby star Dan Biggar was named the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 2015 at the Wales Sport Awards this evening.

Biggar, who had a stand-out Rugby World Cup and Six Nations season for Wales and another impressive season for the Ospreys was presented with the award by Nigel Owens at the Wales Sport Awards ceremony in Cardiff.

And after a record-breaking year for Welsh football, the Wales senior men’s football team took the Team of the Year accolade after qualifying for the finals of the UEFA European Championships in France next summer, and national coach Chris Coleman won the Coach of the Year Award.

In the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Award Biggar beat off the challenge of runner-up Geraint Thomas and third-placed Barry boxer Lee Selby of St Joseph's gym in Newport.

Sport Wales and BBC Wales joined forces again to hold the country’s biggest annual sporting celebration at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

Other outstanding achievements in Welsh sport were honoured at the event.

Rugby Union legend Sir Gareth Edwards was given the Lifetime Achievement (Elite) award. Arguably the greatest ever rugby union player he was capped 53 times for Wales and won 10 British Lions caps.

The Lifetime Achievement (Community) honour was given to Swansea gymnastics stalwart Dorothy Neyland. She started a small gymnastics group in 1972 so her children could take part, and now, 40 years later, it is a thriving club where hundreds of youngsters train every week.

Netball administrator Wendy Pressdee picked up the Volunteer of the Year for work that includes giving over 30 hours a week to run leagues in Swansea, while the Young Volunteer of the Year went to Anglesey’s Elan Môn Gilford.

Mold Netball Club coach Lowri Hâf Barker took the Young Coach of the Year prize after taking on the coaching role aged just 16 after her club coach was diagnosed with cancer.

The Carwyn James Sportsman of the Year prize was given to up-and-coming tennis player Matt Story from Cardiff while sprinter Hannah Brier from Swansea won the Carwyn James Sportswoman of the Year.

John Wilson, who has set up new clubs to cater for visually impaired bowlers, earned the crown of Coach to Disabled People.

Farmers Jane Roberts and Nerys Ellis of Llanrwst Swimming Club in Conwy have been volunteer coaching at the club for over 30 years – an achievement that earned them the BBC Wales Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award. They will now go on to represent Wales in the UK final, which will be announced during BBC Sports Personality of the Year on BBC One Wales on Sunday, December 20.

To complete the list of winners, Angeline Tshiyane, driving sport amongst Newport’s BAME communities, won the Community Coach of the Year.

Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister said: “It’s been another year of high profile success for Welsh sport and the Wales Sport Awards has once again captured the inspiration and everyday sacrifices that makes sport in Wales so compelling.

“At an elite and grassroots level sport is a shining light for Wales with our sport stars putting us on the world map and increases in participation in our communities that are the highest in a generation.

“The achievements of sport in Wales are something that our nation holds with great pride. We must harness this feel-good factor so that generations of people in Wales are able to enjoy the same success in the future.”

Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director, BBC Wales said: “2015 has been another outstanding year in Welsh sport, and it’s a real thrill to showcase the enormous talent and quality across Welsh sport.

"These are extraordinary human stories, not just among our world class sportsmen and women but also across the network of inspirational people who make sport happen – from administrators and officials to coaches and volunteers. This is a night to say thank you and to celebrate them all.”

For more information visit: www.walessportawards.org.uk