Sonny Bill Williams: Two-time Rugby World Cup winner and unbeaten boxer who’s back in rugby league
He may be heading over 15,000 kilometres from home, but Sonny Bill Williams is back where it all began.
The 34-year-old has returned to rugby league after signing a lucrative two-year deal with Super League newcomers Toronto Wolfpack.
It is another fascinating move for the New Zealander, who has represented his country in both codes, holds a 7-0 record in professional boxing and was Googled more often than Kim Kardashian by Kiwis in 2010.
Here, we take a look at Williams’ career so far.
BULLDOGS BEGINNINGS
Fifteen years ago Williams, then 18, burst onto the scene with a brilliant display in his NRL debut as Canterbury Bulldogs thrashed Parramatta Eels 48-14.
The teenager scored a try and made 184 metres that night and, one month later, he became New Zealand’s youngest ever Test player.
March 13, 2004 – Sonny Bill Williams makes his @NRL debut against @TheParraEels.
DETAILS – https://t.co/9njccbzGOO
The rivalry continues in round !
TICKETS HERE – https://t.co/esjpKmaBt4#proudtobeabulldog pic.twitter.com/72OFFdFOij
— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) March 12, 2019
Canterbury went on to win the 2004 NRL Grand Final, with Williams coming off the bench in the victory. A star was born.
TO TOULON
After four seasons with the Bulldogs, Williams controversially switched codes, and countries, joining Top 14 side Toulon, despite having five years left to run on his deal with Canterbury.
A bitter court case followed, and Williams only spent two years in France before turning down an extension that would have reportedly made him the highest-paid player in union.
Williams had other ideas. He wanted to become an All Black.
WORLD CUP WINNER
Williams signed a contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2010 and returned to Canterbury, this time with the region’s union team, while representing the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
He made his much-anticipated All Blacks debut in November 2010, starting at outside centre against England, becoming the first man in almost a century to represent the country in both league and union.
TEN OF THE BEST! Down to 14 men, an incredible offload from Sonny Bill Williams sets up a high paced try for Beauden Barrett to finish.#TeamAllBlacks pic.twitter.com/hgFNKP5z5F
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 26, 2017
New Zealand would end their long wait for a second World Cup title in 2011, with Williams scoring a World Cup record three tries as a substitute.
A HIT AT HEAVYWEIGHT
In 2009, Williams traded passes for punches when he made his debut as a professional boxer, stopping Gary Gurr in the second round.
That was thought to be a one-off but Williams clearly had a taste for the sweet science and he fought four more fights – winning them all – before taking on a title shot against Francois Botha in 2013.
Williams would walk away with the WBA International Heavyweight belt with a points win over a man who had fought Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis previously.
However, there was an element of farce to the bout as it was cut short by two rounds, with the Kiwi clearly struggling by the end of the 10th.
RULING THE ROOST
Five years after his last NRL appearance – and after a stint in Japan – Williams returned to league with the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try on his debut in front of a record crowd.
He would be named the Roosters’ player of the year that season and won a second NRL title.
Already a World Cup winner in union, he came close to claiming league’s most coveted international prize too but was part of the New Zealand side beaten by Australia in the 2013 final.
Another return to union followed, though, and Williams added another World Cup winners’ medal to his collection with the All Blacks in 2015.
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