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Sonny Bill Williams

Personal information

Full name

Sonny William Williams

Born

3 August 1985 (age 40)
Auckland, New Zealand

Height

191 cm (6 ft 3 in)

Weight

108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)

Playing information

Rugby league

Position

Second-row, Centre, Lock

Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–08	Canterbury Bulldogs	73	31	0	0	124
2013–14	Sydney Roosters	45	11	0	0	44
2020	Toronto Wolfpack	5	0	0	0	0
2020	Sydney Roosters	5	0	0	0	0
	Total	128	42	0	0	168
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2004–13	New Zealand	12	5	0	0	20

Rugby union

Position

Centre, Wing

Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2008–10	Toulon	33	6	0	0	30
2010	Canterbury	7	4	0	0	20
2011	Crusaders	15	5	0	0	25
2012, 2014-2016	Chiefs	28	6	0	0	30
2012	Panasonic Wild Knights	7	2	0	0	10
2014–19	Counties Manukau	3	0	0	0	0
2017–19	Blues	18	1	0	0	5
	Total	111	24	0	0	120
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2010–19	New Zealand	58	13		0	80
2016	New Zealand Sevens	7	4	0	0	20

As of 16 July 2022

Relatives

Niall Guthrie (sister)
Henry Perenara (cousin)
Marcus Perenara (cousin)

Sonny William Williams (born 3 August 1985) is a famous New Zealand athlete. He has been a professional heavyweight boxer and played both rugby league and rugby union. He is one of the few players to have represented New Zealand in both rugby codes. He is also one of only 44 players who have won the Rugby World Cup twice!

Sonny Bill Williams started his career in rugby league. He played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also played for the New Zealand (Kiwis) 12 times. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2004 and International Player of the Year in 2013. In 2020, he played for the Toronto Wolfpack in the Super League before returning to the Sydney Roosters.

He switched to rugby union in 2010. He played for teams like Toulon in France, and several New Zealand teams including the Crusaders, Chiefs, and Blues. He played 58 games for the New Zealand (All Blacks) and was part of the teams that won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. He also played rugby sevens for New Zealand, even competing in the 2016 Olympics. He stopped playing rugby in March 2021.

Williams has also had ten professional boxing matches. He held the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight Champion title and the World Boxing Association (WBA) International Heavyweight Champion title.

Early Life and Family

Sonny Bill Williams was born on 3 August 1985, in Auckland, New Zealand. His father, Ioane ("John") Williams, is Samoan, and his mother, Lee Woolsey, is a Pākehā New Zealander with English roots.

He grew up in a working-class family in Mount Albert, Auckland. Sonny Bill has an older brother, John Arthur, and younger twin sisters, Niall and Denise. He once said that his main goal in playing professional rugby was to "get my mum a house."

He went to Owairaka School, Wesley Intermediate, and Mount Albert Grammar School. As a child, he was known for being shy but also a fantastic athlete. He was a fast runner, a champion high jumper, and a cross country runner. He often played rugby with older kids to make it more challenging. Even though he was expected to have a great future in athletics, he stopped when he was about twelve. His mother introduced him to rugby, even though his father was also a good player.

Rugby League Career

Sonny Bill Williams started playing rugby league for the Marist Saints as a junior. A talent scout from the Bulldogs saw him play in Auckland. In 2002, he was offered a contract and moved to Sydney. He was one of the youngest players ever to sign with an NRL club. While training, he also worked full-time as a labourer. He quickly moved up through the junior teams.

Playing for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2004–2008)

In 2004, at just 18 years old, Williams played his first NRL game for Canterbury-Bankstown. He also became the youngest player ever to play for the Kiwis in a Test match against Australia. He played 15 NRL games that season and helped the Bulldogs win the 2004 NRL Grand Final. He was the youngest player for the Bulldogs in a grand final. He won the 'International Newcomer of the Year Award' in 2004.

In 2005, Williams had a shorter season because of a knee injury. He played only five games. He stayed mostly healthy in 2006, playing 21 matches and scoring eight tries. The Bulldogs lost in the preliminary final that year.

In 2007, Williams was suspended for two weeks after a high tackle. He signed a new five-year contract with Canterbury. He played 21 matches, scored 14 tries, and was known for his many "offloads" (passing the ball after being tackled). He broke his forearm in a semi-final game, which meant he missed playing for New Zealand again.

Playing for the Sydney Roosters (2013–2014)

Williams playing for the Roosters.

On 13 November 2012, Williams announced he would return to rugby league with the Sydney Roosters for the 2013 NRL season. His contract was approved after some discussion. He made his debut for the Roosters on 7 March and scored his first try for them. He scored two tries against his old team, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, in a big 38–0 win.

Williams was suspended for two games in July for a high tackle. On 6 September, he was named man-of-the-match as the Roosters won the NRL minor premiership. On 6 October, Williams played in the grand final against Manly, and the Roosters won the premiership 26–18. He said it was the closest he had come to crying. He was named the Roosters' player of the year. He then decided to stay with the Roosters for 2014.

Williams during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

After the NRL season, Williams played for New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He scored three tries against Papua New Guinea and was named man-of-the-match. He won the 'International Player of the Year' award for 2013. New Zealand lost to Australia in the World Cup final.

In 2014, Williams was suspended for three games early in the season. He played his 100th NRL game on 12 April. He scored two tries against the Bulldogs in May. He broke his thumb in July and missed three games. His time with the Roosters ended after they lost in the preliminary final in September.

Playing for the Toronto Wolfpack (2019–2020)

In November 2019, Williams signed a two-year deal to play for the Toronto Wolfpack, a Canadian team in the Super League. This was a big move for the club.

Return to the Sydney Roosters (2020)

The Toronto Wolfpack had to withdraw from the Super League due to money problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed Williams to return to the Sydney Roosters in 2020. He played five games for the Roosters, helping them in their attempt to win another premiership. His final game was a semi-final loss against the Canberra Raiders.

Williams announced his retirement from both rugby codes in early 2021.

Rugby Union Career

Playing for Toulon (2008–2010)

In July 2008, Williams left Australia to join the French rugby union club Toulon. His move was controversial because he left his contract with the Bulldogs early. The dispute was settled when Toulon paid a transfer fee.

His best achievement with Toulon was reaching the final of the 2009–10 European Challenge Cup. In June 2010, his contract with Toulon ended. He turned down a very large offer from Toulon to sign with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). He wanted to play for the All Blacks.

Playing for Canterbury (2010)

Williams at training for the All Blacks, 2010.

On 3 September 2010, Williams made his debut for Canterbury in the ITM Cup. He scored his first try for Canterbury against Taranaki. Canterbury won the Ranfurly Shield and the ITM Cup in 2010. On 17 October, Williams was chosen for the All Blacks squad.

He made his All Blacks debut against England on 6 November. He became one of the few players to represent New Zealand in rugby union after playing for them in rugby league. In his second game for the All Blacks, he was named man-of-the-match against Scotland.

Playing for the Crusaders (2011)

Williams playing for the Crusaders, 2011.

On 4 March 2011, Williams played his first Super Rugby game for the Crusaders. He scored a try and helped set up another. He played in the first Super Rugby match held outside of New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa. He scored five tries during the season. The Crusaders reached the Super Rugby final but lost to the Reds. Williams was known for his many "off-loads" during the season.

Williams playing for the All Blacks, 2011.

On 30 July, Williams played his first home Test match for the All Blacks. He played in the opening game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He scored his first Test rugby tries against Japan, playing on the wing. He scored three tries in the tournament as a substitute player. New Zealand went on to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Playing for the Chiefs (2012)

On 31 October 2011, Williams announced he would join the Chiefs for the 2012 Super Rugby season. His contract allowed him to have some professional boxing matches.

On 25 February 2012, he made his debut for the Chiefs. He scored his first try for the Chiefs in April. On 4 August, Williams played in the Chiefs' 37–6 victory against the Sharks in the Super Rugby final. He scored the last try of the match. With this win, Williams became one of only four players to have won both an NRL and a Super Rugby title. He was again a leader in off-loads and tackle busts.

On 18 August, Williams played for the All Blacks in the first match of the Rugby Championship. He ended his two years in New Zealand rugby with a man-of-the-match performance against Australia.

Playing for Panasonic Wild Knights (2012–2013)

On 9 July 2012, Williams announced he would play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan for the 2012–13 season. This deal was thought to be the biggest one-season contract in rugby union history. He made his debut for Panasonic on 9 September. He scored two tries before an injury ended his season early.

Playing for Counties Manukau (2014)

On 20 December 2013, it was announced that Williams would return to rugby union with the Chiefs in 2015. He also wanted to play for New Zealand in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and in rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In June 2014, he signed a two-year deal to play for Counties Manukau in the ITM Cup, starting in 2015. However, he started playing for them early, in October 2014.

On 20 October, Williams was named in the All Blacks' squad for a tour. On 1 November, he returned to international rugby against the United States, scoring two tries and being named man-of-the-match.

Playing for the Chiefs (2015)

On 14 February 2015, Williams returned to the Chiefs in the 2015 Super Rugby season with a win. He scored his first try of the season against the Crusaders. He missed a month due to a back injury but returned for the final round. The Chiefs lost in the quarter-finals.

On 8 July, Williams played in New Zealand's first test of the year against Samoa. He played in the opening match of the 2015 Rugby Championship.

Williams during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

On 30 August, Williams was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He played in the opening game against Argentina. He scored a try against Tonga in the pool stage. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the final against Australia. After the final, he famously gave his winner's medal to a young fan who had been tackled by a security guard. He was given a second medal the next day.

Rugby Sevens (2016)

On 11 January 2016, Williams began training with the All Blacks Sevens team. He made his international sevens debut on 30 January against Russia, scoring a try with his first touch. He helped New Zealand win the 2016 Wellington Sevens and the 2016 Sydney Sevens.

On 1 June, Williams signed a three-year deal to stay with New Zealand rugby until the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He joined the Blues in 2017.

On 3 July, Williams was chosen to represent New Zealand in men's rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics. His sister, Niall, was also chosen for the women's team. In New Zealand's first game against Japan, Williams injured his Achilles tendon, which ended his Olympic journey. New Zealand finished fifth.

Playing for the Blues (2017–2019)

Sonny Bill Williams on the run against the Chiefs, 26 May 2017

In 2017, Williams played for the Blues Super Rugby team. He made headlines for covering a sponsor's logo on his jersey. He played well when the Blues drew with the Chiefs. He was named man of the match when the Blues beat the British and Irish Lions.

Sonny Bill Williams, playing against Samoa at Eden Park 2017

Williams returned to the All Blacks against Samoa, scoring a try in a big 78–0 win. A week later, he was sent off in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions for a shoulder charge. He was the first All Black to be sent off in New Zealand. The All Blacks lost that game.

After his suspension, Williams returned for the first Bledisloe Cup match, scoring a try in a record 54–34 win. He played in all of New Zealand's Rugby Championship matches, which they won. He played 13 Tests in 2017.

He missed much of the 2018 Super Rugby season due to injury. He played his 50th Test for New Zealand against Australia in a 37–20 win. His injury problems continued, limiting his play.

On 28 August 2019, Williams was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, his third World Cup. He became one of a few All Blacks to attend three World Cups. He was often used as a replacement player. After New Zealand lost to England in the semi-final, Williams started in his final Test for New Zealand, a 40–17 win over Wales for third place. He was one of five players to retire from international rugby that day.

Boxing Career

Sonny Bill Williams has also had a professional boxing career.

Sonny Bill Williams
Statistics
Real name	Sonny Bill Williams
Nickname(s)	SBW
Rated at	Heavyweight
Nationality	New Zealand
Born	(1985-08-03) 3 August 1985 (age 40) Auckland, New Zealand
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	11
Wins	9
Wins by KO	4
Losses	3

On 27 May 2009, Williams made his boxing debut, winning by technical knockout (TKO) in the second round. On 30 June 2010, he won another fight by TKO.

Winning Titles

On 29 January 2011, Williams won his third professional fight against Scott Lewis by a unanimous decision. He donated 200 tickets to flood victims for this fight. A fan paid $3,890 for his signed gloves, with the money going to flood relief.

On 5 June 2011, he fought Alipate Liava'a. Williams won by unanimous decision. This event was a charity fight for the Christchurch earthquake appeal. Williams donated $NZ100,000 from his share of TV sales.

On 8 February 2012, Williams fought Clarence Tillman III for the vacant New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight Championship title. Williams won the title by TKO in the first round.

On 8 February 2013, Williams fought South African Francois Botha for the vacant WBA International Heavyweight title. Williams won by unanimous decision. The fight was shortened to ten rounds, which caused some controversy because Botha was not told about the change.

In October 2013, Williams said he would not box for at least three years to focus on rugby. Because of this, he lost his two boxing titles in December 2013.

Later Fights

On 31 January 2015, Williams returned to the ring to fight American Chauncy Welliver. Williams won by unanimous decision.

On 26 June 2021, Williams defeated Waikato Falefehi by unanimous decision. He was knocked down in the second round but recovered to win.

On 23 March 2022, Williams defeated former Australian rules footballer Barry Hall by TKO in the first round.

On November 5, 2022, Williams lost to Mark Hunt in the fourth round. He also lost to former NRL player Paul Gallen in July 2025, bringing his boxing record to 9 wins and 3 losses.

Endorsements and Charity Work

On 5 May 2014, Williams became a global ambassador for sportswear company Adidas. He was the first rugby league player to get such a deal. He has also been the face of clothing brand Just Jeans and an ambassador for BMW. He has worked with other brands like Powerade and Rebel Sport.

In December 2015, Williams became an ambassador for UNICEF. He visited Lebanon to help raise awareness about the struggles of Syrian refugee children.

Personal Life

Sonny Bill Williams's younger sister, Niall, is a former New Zealand international touch football captain and a New Zealand rugby sevens player. His older brother, John Arthur Williams, has also played rugby league. Sonny Bill is cousins with former professional rugby league players Henry and Marcus Perenara. He is also related to rugby players Tim Nanai-Williams and Nick Williams, and current All Blacks player TJ Perenara. People often call him "SBW."

Williams converted to Islam in 2009 while playing in France. He is the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks and often talks about his faith. In 2018, he went on an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and visited Medina. He is a citizen of both New Zealand and Samoa. In 2019, he spoke out against the treatment of the Uyghurs in China. Williams is married to Alana Raffie, a former model from South Africa, and they have five children.