Source: mobile.nytimes.com
WELLINGTON - Love him or loathe him, Sonny Bill Williams's every move is guaranteed to provoke a reaction.A supremely talented athlete who has turned his hand to rugby league, rugby union and now boxing, "SBW" causes a stir wherever he goes, whatever he does.On the rugby field his passing and amazing ability to offload the ball have won over many rugby union fans, while during his league days he was famed as much for his brutal tackling technique as his skills with ball in hand.But it has not always been easy for the New Zealander with Samoan heritage.
During his time in rugby league, he was involved in several alcohol-related incidents off the field. But since converting to Islam in 2008, he has kept out of trouble.The same year, he went from being the darling of the Australian National Rugby League competition to Australia's most hated man when he walked out on the Canterbury Bulldogs club.He had been at the club since 2002 and won legions of fans with his slick offloading and hard-hitting tackling. However, just 18 months into a five-year contract, Williams fled Australia for France to try his hand at rugby union with the rich club Toulon.
After a couple of seasons there, learning his new trade alongside England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga, Williams turned down big money to stay and instead signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union to chase his dream of playing for the New Zealand All Blacks.The N.Z.R.U. bent over backwards to get its man, allowing him to pursue his other passion, boxing, while playing for Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks.Williams's charity fight on Sunday against Alipate Liava'a, a Tongan gospel singer, took place during the Crusaders' bye week in the Super Rugby competition.