Sonny Bill Williams, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, has revealed that his young sons are leaning towards representing South Africa rather than following in his footsteps with the All Blacks. The 36-year-old New Zealand sporting icon, who also excelled in rugby league and boxing, shared that his sons Zaid, three, and Essa, nearly two, have expressed a desire to play for the Springboks.
Speaking to Ruck.co.uk, Williams said, “Cape Town is my second home. Maybe one day my two boys might be playing in Green and Gold. They’ve told me that’s what they’d like.” The influence appears to come from his wife Alana Raffie, who is of South African descent, rather than Williams' own storied career with the All Blacks, where he scored 13 tries in 58 appearances.
Williams, who won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015, also enjoyed a successful NRL career and a stint as a professional boxer, becoming WBA International heavyweight champion. His sons were infants or unborn when South Africa won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but that triumph may have cemented their preference.
While the boys' allegiance seems set, there remains a possibility that Williams' daughters, Iman, seven, and Aisha, five, might yet be swayed towards New Zealand. Williams himself was a pioneer in taking his talents globally, playing in New Zealand, Australia, France, Japan, and even Canada with the Toronto Wolfpack.
The former All Black appears content to let his children decide their own sporting paths, despite his own legendary status in New Zealand rugby. South Africa may welcome the potential future talent if the boys' early intentions become reality.
