Sonny Bill Williams

Who is Sonny Bill Williams?

Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby player and heavyweight boxer who has played both rugby league and rugby union. He currently plays rugby league for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. He is particularly known in both codes for his ability to offload the ball in the tackle and, formerly in rugby league, for his shoulder charges.

Williams made his professional rugby league debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs during the 2004 NRL season. 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 provincially for Canterbury in the 2010 ITM Cup, before being selected for the All Blacks' 2010 end of year tour where he made his Test debut against England on 6 November of that year. In Super Rugby he played for the Crusaders in 2011 and the Chiefs in 2012. Following that, he played briefly for Panasonic in the Japanese Top League before returning to rugby league after signing with the Sydney Roosters for the 2013 NRL season. That year he was judged the world's best rugby league player at the annual RLIF Awards.