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| birth_place = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| birth_place = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| height = {{convert|1.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/news/sbw-wants-world-in-his-hands/1058237/ SBW wants world in his hands], The Star, dated 9 June 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.allblacks.com/news/14609/Robbie-Deans-nonplussed-about-Sonny-Bill Robbie Deans nonplussed about Sonny Bill], NZPA, dated 20 October 2010.</ref>
| height = {{convert|1.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/news/sbw-wants-world-in-his-hands/1058237/ SBW wants world in his hands], The Star, dated 9 June 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.allblacks.com/news/14609/Robbie-Deans-nonplussed-about-Sonny-Bill Robbie Deans nonplussed about Sonny Bill], NZPA, dated 20 October 2010.</ref>
| weight = {{convert|108|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.chiefs.co.nz/the-team/team-gallery/sonny-bill-williams.html Sonny Bill Williams], chiefs.co.nz.</ref>
| weight = {{convert|110|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=playerProfile&playerID=2039</ref>
| ru_position = [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]], [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| ru_position = [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]], [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| allblackno = 1108
| allblackno = 1108

Revision as of 06:11, 14 September 2012

Sonny Bill Williams
Williams training for the All Blacks in 2010
Birth nameSonny William Williams[1]
Date of birth (1985-08-03) 3 August 1985 (age 38)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[2][3]
Weight110 kg (240 lb; 17 st 5 lb)[4]
SchoolMount Albert Grammar School
Notable relative(s)Henry Perenara
Marcus Perenara
Tim Nanai-Williams
Occupation(s)Rugby union player, heavyweight boxer, former rugby league player
Rugby league career
Position(s) Second-row, Lock, Centre
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008-2010
2012		 Toulon
Panasonic		 33
1		 (30)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 Canterbury 6 (20)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011
2012		 Crusaders
Chiefs		 15
18		 (25)
(25)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010-2012 New Zealand 19 (30)
Correct as of 27 August 2012

Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a New Zealand rugby union player, heavyweight boxer and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre. He is particularly known in rugby league and rugby union for his ability to offload the ball in the tackle and, in rugby league, for his shoulder charges.[5][6][7]

He started his professional rugby league career with the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Australian NRL. In 2008 he controversially left the Bulldogs mid-season to play rugby union with French club Toulon. In 2010 Williams signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union in an ultimately successful bid to play for the All Blacks at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played for Canterbury in the 2010 ITM Cup before being selected for the All Blacks' end of year tour in 2010, making his debut against England at Twickenham. He played for the Crusaders in the 2011 season and the Chiefs in the 2012 season of Super Rugby and currently plays for Panasonic in the Japanese Top League for the 2012–13 season. He was a member of the All Blacks squad that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Since 2009 he has boxed five times, winning all five of his heavyweight bouts. He is the current New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight Champion.

Early life

Williams was born on 3 August 1985, in Auckland, New Zealand, the son of John and Lee.[8] He is of Samoan descent on his father's side.[9] He grew up in the Auckland suburb of Mount Albert and attended Owairaka Primary School,[10] Wesley Intermediate and Mount Albert Grammar School. Though his father was an accomplished rugby league player, Williams has said it was his mother who introduced him to the game.[8]

Rugby league

Williams was a Marist Saints junior[11] when he was spotted playing in Auckland by Bulldogs talent scout John Ackland. In 2002 he was offered a contract and moved to Sydney (as the youngest player to ever sign with the Bulldogs)[12] to play in the Bulldogs junior grades.[13] He advanced up the ranks quickly, becoming a starting player in the forward pack for the Bulldogs Jersey Flegg Cup side in his first year. The following year Williams cemented a starting spot in the Premier League side.

2004-2008: Bulldogs

In 2004, when only 18 years old, he made his National Rugby League debut for the Bulldogs against the Parramatta Eels at Telstra Stadium. In 2004, he was selected by New Zealand after only a handful of NRL matches and on 23 April made his debut for the Kiwis as their youngest-ever Test player in the 2004 ANZAC Test against Australia.[12] Williams played 15 NRL premiership matches during the season, firmly establishing himself in the Bulldogs squad. He also experienced Premiership success in his rookie year and became the youngest person to play for the Bulldogs in a Grand Final[12] when playing off the bench in the Bulldogs' 16–13 victory over the Sydney Roosters in the 2004 NRL grand final. Williams capped off a successful debut season by receiving the International Newcomer of the Year Award and being named in Rugby League World magazine's 2004 World XIII.[14]

Williams playing for the Bulldogs.

Williams' contract was due to expire in 2005 and he reportedly received several lucrative offers to attempt to lure him away from the Bulldogs, with the largest rumoured to be about $3 million from Super League club St Helens in the UK.[15] Williams decided to stay with the Bulldogs and signed on for a further two years. St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus later said the club had not made an offer to him.[16]

Williams had a shortened 2005 season after sustaining a severe knee injury plus several other minor injuries. Williams only played five games through the year and he subsequently missed several internationals for New Zealand. Williams publicly expressed his frustration, stating "You've got to be pretty strong mentally when you have injuries, and I've had a few."[17] Williams would later dismiss claims he was injury prone as "bullshit".[18]

Williams stayed relatively injury-free throughout the 2006 season, playing in 21 matches. He scored 8 tries and just missed out on a Grand Final berth, losing to eventual winners the Brisbane Broncos in the Preliminary Final. Despite having been mostly injury free throughout the year, off-season surgery forced him to miss the Tri-Nations for the Kiwis for the second year running. At the start of the 2007 NRL season, Williams' contract status was a frequent news item in the Australian print media. The speculation ended when Williams re-signed with the Bulldogs on 9 March 2007, with a 5 year contract believed to be worth over $2.5 million, that would have seen him stay with the club through to the 2012 season.[19]

In the first game of the 2007 season, Williams was sent off and subsequently suspended for two weeks for a high tackle on Andrew Johns. In doing so, he became the first player of the 21st century to be sent off in a first-round game.[20] He went on to play in 21 matches and score 14 tries during the season, although it did not end well as Williams broke his forearm in a tackle on Nathan Hindmarsh during the Semi Final against the Parramatta Eels. His team lost the match and Williams was again ruled out from representing his country in the post-season 2007 Great Britain Tour. He was nominated for 'Second-Rower of the Year' at the 2007 Dally M Awards but lost the award to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles second-rower Anthony Watmough.

Rugby union

2008-2010: Toulon

In July 2008 Williams left Australia to join French rugby union club Toulon,[21][22] citing salary cap concerns in a controversial exit.[21] In 2005 it had been suggested that the NRL's salary cap restrictions could prove problematic for trying to keep top-grade players in rugby league.[23] Canterbury Bulldogs club officials and players were not notified of his departure until after Williams had already left for Europe. Williams was 18 months into a five year contract with the Bulldogs, which was resolved when Toulon paid a transfer fee of around £300,000.[24][25] According to Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg, Williams was "our best player" before he "walked out".[26]

Williams' highest honour with Toulon was finishing runners-up in the 2009-10 European Challenge Cup. On 6 June 2009 he played for the Barbarians in a tour match against Australia.[27] His contract with Toulon ended in June 2010, and in 2010 Toulon reportedly tabled a three-year offer to Williams worth $6 million, while the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) could only come up with $550,000 per year. Williams rejected what was reportedly the largest ever offer in rugby union and opted to sign with the NZRU in a bid to play for the All Blacks.[28] He chose to play with Canterbury in the ITM Cup, and the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition.[29]

2010: Canterbury

On 3 September Williams made his Canterbury debut against Bay of Plenty . He was named in the reserves, and 18 minutes into the game replaced second five-eight Ryan Crotty. Williams scored his first try in the ITM Cup against Taranaki, and followed up with tries against Wellington, Otago, and Counties Manukau. On 9 October Canterbury became the new holder of the Ranfurly Shield[30] and on 5 November they were crowned ITM Cup Champions after defeating Waikato 33-13. On 17 October 2010 he was named in the All Black squad to tour Hong Kong and the Northern Hemisphere.[31]

He made his highly anticipated New Zealand debut at Twickenham against England on 6 November. He started at outside centre and combined with Ma'a Nonu to form the heaviest ever All Black midfield partnership at 212 kg.[32][33] In doing so, he became the first person since Karl Ifwersen in the 1920s to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for New Zealand in rugby league.[34] On 13 November 2010, in his second game for the All Blacks, Williams was awarded the man of the match for his performance against Scotland.[35][36]

2011: Crusaders

On 4 March Williams made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders against the Waratahs, scoring a try and setting up another.[37] A week later he scored his second try in as many matches, against the ACT Brumbies.[38] On 27 March he returned to Twickenham to play in his fourth match for the Crusaders against the Sharks, in the first Super Rugby match played outside of New Zealand, Australia or South Africa.[39] On 9 April, in his fifth game for the Crusaders, Williams scored his 3rd try.[40] On 23 April Williams, playing off the reserves bench against the Highlanders, experienced his first rugby defeat since his All Black debut more than five months earlier.[41] A week later he scored his fourth try while playing against the Western Force.[42] On 7 May Williams played his first rugby match in South Africa in the Crusaders victory over the Stormers at Newlands Stadium.[43] On 29 May he played against the Queensland Reds in a match which set a new attendance record for an Australian Super Rugby game with 48,301 fans at Suncorp Stadium.[44] On 25 June he scored his fifth try whilst playing against the Sharks in the first finals week of the Super Rugby competition.[45] A week later against the Stormers in Cape Town he was part of the Crusaders team that became the first side to win a Super Rugby semifinal outside their home country since 1999.[46] On 9 July Williams was part of the Crusaders team that lost to the Queensland Reds in the Grand Final held at Suncorp Stadium before a crowd of 52,113 – an Australian provincial attendance record.[47] He ended the Super Rugby season with the most off-loads, was second to Quade Cooper for linebreak assists, was in the top ten for try assists, and was 13th overall for run metres; while no other centre came close to Williams's off-load and linebreak assist figures.[48][49]

On 30 July Williams played his first home test match during the second game of the 2011 Tri Nations Series.[50] On 9 September he played in his first Rugby World Cup in the opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[51] A week later he scored his first test rugby tries during New Zealand’s second game, in which he played on the right wing. The match was also the first time he had played outside the centres since playing for Toulon, where he had a handful of games on the wing and in the back row.[52][53] He scored his third try of the tournament against France in his second consecutive game playing on the wing.[54] On 2 October Williams scored in a third consecutive match, whilst playing against Canada.[55] New Zealand went on to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with Williams amassing a Rugby World Cup record of three tries as a substitute player.[56]

On 31 October it was announced that Williams would join the Chiefs for the 2012 Super Rugby season - with his new contract allowing a "limited number" of professional boxing bouts.[57]

2012: Chiefs

On 25 February Williams made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs against the Highlanders and in early March was named as the NZRU's Teen Rugby Ambassador.[58] On 14 April Williams scored his first try for the Chiefs while playing against the Cheetahs.[59] On 13 May Williams scored his second try, in the Chiefs first loss after their club record of nine consecutive wins.[60][61] On 2 June he scored his third try while playing against the Blues.[62] During the mid-year rugby test series, Williams played in all three of New Zealand’s matches against Ireland, scoring two tries in the last game of the series. On 6 July he scored his fourth try for the Chiefs, this time against his former Crusaders club.[63] On 4 August Williams played in the Chiefs 37-6 victory in the Super Rugby Final against the Sharks, scoring the last try of the match then celebrating by leaping into the home crowd.[64] With this victory, Williams became only the third person, after Peter Ryan and Brad Thorn, to have won both an NRL and Super Rugby title.[65]

On 18 August Williams played for the All Blacks in the first match of the inaugural Rugby Championship.[66] The following week, Williams ended his 2 year tenure in New Zealand rugby with a man-of-the-match performance in New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup winning 22-0 victory over Australia.[67]

2012-2013: Panasonic

On 9 July 2012, Williams announced he would play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the Japanese Top League during the 2012–13 season, with the allowance to have one boxing fight during the season.[68] He is also expected to be heavily involved in the promotion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, since the country will be the main host of the event.[69] The deal is thought to be the largest one-season contract in rugby union history.[70] On 9 September, a week after sitting out the Top League season opener in order to be given time to adjust after coming off recent All Black duties,[71] Williams made his debut for Panasonic against NTT Shining Arcs.[72]

Boxing

Sonny Bill Williams
Nationality New Zealand
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights5
Wins5
Wins by KO3

On 27 May 2009, Williams made his debut as a professional boxer and defeated Garry Gurr with a Technical knockout (TKO) in the second round in Sydney.[73] On 30 June 2010, he defeated Ryan Hogan in a bout that ended by way of TKO after only two minutes and 35 seconds. Williams described the preparation for the fight as "good off-season training" for his imminent debut for the Canterbury rugby team.[74]

Williams vs. Lewis

Williams fought in his third professional match against Australian Scott Lewis (on 29 January 2011 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre) in his first fight as the main event.[75] Lewis' trainer Terry Devlin named his youngest son after Sonny Bill Williams, whom he calls a "superb athlete".[76] Williams was initially scheduled to fight Lewis on 29 January at Newcastle Entertainment Centre. However, the bout was moved to the Gold Coast to cross-promote Williams's Super rugby team, the Crusaders, and their pre-season game against the Queensland Reds.[77] Due to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods occurring at the same time as Williams's preparation for his bout against Scott Lewis, as well as his chief sparring partner Alex Leapai being stranded by the flooding in Gatton, Williams donated 200 tickets to his 29 January fight to flood victims.[78] Williams won the six-round bout against Lewis by unanimous points decision. He was scored favourably 60-55, 60-55 and 60-54 by the three judges. A fan paid $3,890 for his autographed gloves from the bout, with the money going towards the Queensland flood relief fund.[79]

Williams vs. Liava'a

Williams fought again on 5 June 2011, when the Crusaders had a bye week. The fight, the second of three allowed under his agreement with the NZRU, took place at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City against Tongan Alipate Liava'a.[80] Williams won the bout by unanimous points decision, the fight scored 60-54 in his favour by all three judges.[81] It was promoted as a Christchurch earthquake charity fight dubbed "The Clash For Canterbury".[82] The fight became one of the single largest fundraisers for the 2011 Christchurch earthquake appeal when Sky donated its profits from the pay-per-view sales of the fight and Williams made a $NZ100,000 donation from his share of TV sales- described as "one of the biggest individual donations by an athlete to a disaster appeal".[83][84][85]

Williams vs. Tillman

On 8 February 2012 Williams was supposed to fight Richard Tutaki for the vacant New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight Championship title at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, after Shane Cameron vacated it to move down to the cruiserweight division.[86][87] However, it was revealed that Tutaki was facing serious criminal charges and so was subsequently dropped from the fight card.[88] Williams's replacement opponent was then announced to be Auckland-based American Clarence Tillman III.[89][90] The fight was dubbed the "Battle For The Belt".[91] Williams went on to claim the title belt by Technical Knockout after a left hook and a series of further blows on Tillman forced referee Lance Revill to stop the fight in the first-round.[92] Following the bout, Williams rejected an offer to join the boxing stable of fight promoter Don King.[93]

Personal life

Williams converted to Islam in 2008, and is the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks.[94]

His younger sister Niall Williams is a New Zealand international touch football player, and won gold at the 2005 Youth World Cup and silver at the 2011 Touch Football World Cup.[95][96][97] He is the cousin of brothers Henry and Marcus Perenara, who are former professional rugby league players,[98] and is also the cousin of rugby union player and former Chiefs teammate Tim Nanai-Williams.[99]

Williams was in Christchurch when both the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes struck.[100]

Controversies

Williams has been involved in a number of controversial off-field incidents. Most controversially, the circumstances in which he left the Bulldogs created a great media debate in Australia and New Zealand and Williams was the subject of considerable criticism for a departure that was described as the greatest act of treachery in the game's history.[101]

On 17 August 2005 he was charged with drink driving; the Bulldogs fined him $5,000 over the incident and he appeared in Waverley Local Court on 7 September. He was convicted of drink driving, with a blood alcohol level of .075.[102]

In 2007, Williams was caught in a compromising position with Australian model and ironwoman Candice Falzon. A photo taken on a mobile phone of the incident was published on the Daily Telegraph website.[103] He later apologised to his then girlfriend Genna Shaw over the incident and said he was "ashamed and embarrassed".[104]

On 17 June 2007, Williams was caught by police urinating on a wall in an alleyway near a nightclub in Cronulla in Sydney and was given an infringement notice and fined $650.[105] He subsequently admitted he had an alcohol problem and said he would seek professional help.[106][107]

On 25 August 2010, Williams was reprimanded by his Canterbury provincial rugby team for skiing while on injury leave. A Canterbury Rugby Union spokesman confirmed he had not been given clearance to go on a skiing trip on the day of Canterbury’s NPC match against Tasman, and said he had been "reminded of his responsibilities."[108]

Statistics

NRL

Season Matches Tries Goals Points
2004 15 4 0 16
2005 5 1 0 4
2006 21 8 0 32
2007 21 14 0 56
2008 11 4 0 16

Professional boxing

5 Wins (3 knockouts), 0 Losses, 0 Draws[81]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win 5-0 New Zealand Clarence Tillman III TKO 1 (10), 2:58 2012-02-08 New Zealand Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, Waikato Region Won the vacant NZPBA Heavyweight title
Win 4-0 Tonga Alipate Liava'a UD 6 (6) 2011-06-05 New Zealand Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City, Auckland Region Williams fought with split webbing to his left hand sustained playing against Queensland,
as well as a viral infection[109]
Win 3-0 Australia Scott Lewis UD 6 (6) 2011-01-29 Australia Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland Fought with stress fracture of left fibula, diagnosed towards end of All Blacks tour of Britain in late 2010[110]
Win 2-0 New Zealand Ryan Hogan TKO 1 (4), 2:35 2010-06-30 Australia Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland Hogan's professional debut.
Win 1-0 New Zealand Garry Gurr TKO 2 (4), 1:22 2009-05-27 Australia Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland Williams's and Gurr's professional debut

Honours

Individual

Team

References

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  2. ^ SBW wants world in his hands, The Star, dated 9 June 2011.
  3. ^ Robbie Deans nonplussed about Sonny Bill, NZPA, dated 20 October 2010.
  4. ^ [http://http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=playerProfile&playerID=2039
  5. ^ Sonny Bill Williams sinbinned for shoulder charge on debut, by David Murray, The Daily Telegraph, 9 August2008.
  6. ^ SBW told to put shoulder charge away newstalkzb.co.nz, 20 October 2011
  7. ^ Hewett, Chris (28 March 2011). "Williams and Carter produce a Super show for Twickenham". The Independent. London.
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  54. ^ Centurion celebrates with silver and leaves Les Bleus in the red, by Matt Lloyd, 25 September 2011.
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  58. ^ SBW pushing teen rugby despite NRL rumours, tvnz.co.nz, dated 6 March 2012.
  59. ^ Sonny Bill genius takes Chiefs top, supersport.com, by Gavin Rich, dated 14 April 2012.
  60. ^ Reds 42 Chiefs 27, sportinglife.com, dated 13 May 2012.
  61. ^ Chiefs battle past Sharks to stay top of table, by Evan Pegden, dated 22 April 2012.
  62. ^ Chiefs leave it late to beat Blues, smh.com.au, dated 2 June 2012.
  63. ^ Crusaders stay alive with dramatic win, by Gavin Rich, SuperSport.com, dated 6 July 2012.
  64. ^ Sonny Bill Williams finishes sting in New Zealand rugby with Super 15 victory for Chiefs over Sharks, by Jamie Pandaram, The Daily Telegraph, dated 5 August 2012.
  65. ^ Sonny Bill Williams good but not Brad, by Paul Lewis, nzherald.co.nz, dated 8 July 2012.
  66. ^ SBW has last laugh as decoy ploy succeeds, The Australian, by Bret Harris, dated 20 August 2012.
  67. ^ All Blacks: Sonny Bill pumped for farewell, by Wynne Gray, nzherald.co.nz, 26 August 2012.
  68. ^ It's Sushi Boy Williams, Sonny off to Japan, stuff.co.nz, by Evan Pegden, dated 10 July 2012.
  69. ^ Video: Sonny Bill Williams confirms move to Japan, then NRL, by 3 News online staff, dated 9 July 2012.
  70. ^ Sonny Bill keen to play in Rugby Championship, Sports Illustrated, dated 31 July 2012.
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  72. ^ Sonny Bill tastes defeat on debut in Japan, ESPN, dated 9 September 2012.
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  111. ^ Samoan Sports Association

Further reading

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