Profile Text
Williams in 2014, Australian Embassy in Samoa, photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website – www.dfat.gov.au
Birth Name: Sonny William Williams
Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 3 August, 1985
Ethnicity: * father – Samoan * mother – Welsh, English
Sonny Bill Williams, nicknamed “SBW,” is a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union player, and heavyweight boxer. A second-row, centre, and lock in rugby league, he played for Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, and Toronto Wolfpack, and the New Zealand national team. A centre and wing in rugby union, he played for Toulon, Canterbury, Crusaders, Chiefs, Panasonic Wild Knights, Counties Manukau, and Blues, and the New Zealand national team and the New Zealand national Sevens team.
He is the son of Lee Woolsey and John Williams. His father is Samoan. His mother has Welsh and English ancestry. Sonny Bill has dual citizenship, New Zealand and Samoa. He converted to Islam in 2009.
Sonny Bill is a brother of rugby league player John Arthur Williams, and rugby sevens player and New Zealand international touch football captain Niall Williams. Sonny Bill is a cousin of rugby league players Marcus Perenara and Henry Perenara, who is also a referee. He is also a cousin of siblings, rugby union players Nick Williams and Tim Nanai-Williams.
Sonny Bill is married to South African model Alana Raffie, and has five children.
Sonny Bill’s paternal grandmother likely is named Nellie. She likely was the granddaughter of Fuamatu Niusila/Nu’usila Williams and Sisilia Moemau’u Satele.
Sonny Bill’s maternal grandfather was named William James “Bill” Woolsey. William was a rugby league player.
Sonny Bill’s maternal grandmother was Denise Francesca Phillips (the daughter of William T. Phillips and Gladys Mary Sage). Denise was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Gladys was born in Maindee, St Matthew, Monmouthshire, the daughter of Daniel Sage and Sarah Ann Humphreys.
A picture of Sonny Bill’s maternal grandparents can be seen here .
Source: Obituary of Sonny Bill’s maternal grandmother, Denise Francesca (Phillips) Woolsey – http://notices.nzherald.co.nz