Sonny Bill Williams with his wife Alana and family friend Sapoe Filiga.
All Black Sonny Bill Williams was named Albertian of the Year at the annual Albertians’ Reunion Dinner, held at the Northern Club in Auckland city on Monday, 29 May.
Sonny Bill received the accolade for his illustrious sporting career, which has seen him play in the NRL, be selected for the Kiwis and the Olympic Sevens teams, win all six outings as a heavyweight boxer, be named the world’s best rugby league player in 2013, and win two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015. He is currently a member of the Auckland Blues and hoping to be named in the 2017 All Black squad to take on the Lions.
At the function organised by the MAGS Foundation, Headmaster Mr Patrick Drumm said it was Sonny Bill’s strong personal commitment to faith and family that sealed his selection as Albertian of the Year.
“At MAGS we strive to develop our students in mind, body and soul, believing that each complements the other. Sonny Bill exemplifies the values of standing by one’s principles, and we are proud to honour him tonight.”
Sonny Bill with friends from MAGS, clockwise from top left, Zak Raffie, Cale Baker, Tillam Kapsin, his agent and friend Koda Nasser, Filinga Filiga and Sean Collins.
Sonny Bill’s lifelong friend and fellow Albertian, Filinga Filiga, read his citation, saying his friend also excelled in Athletics, recalling the time Sonny Bill could not bear to hang at the back of a cross country race with his friends but ran ahead and came among the front of the field. “That’s when I first saw his competitive edge. Sonny Bill is also the hardest working person I’ve ever met – when he started training with the Bulldogs as a teenager he would get up early every morning for his job cleaning the stadium. He told me his aim when he became a professional sportsman was to represent his family and buy his mum a house. He also said you have to be pretty strong mentally, and that speaks volumes about who he is.”
In his speech, Sonny Bill recalled his childhood in a humble home that backed onto Owairaka Mt Albert, where he and his three siblings spent many hours playing.
“My parents taught me a strong work ethic and persistence; a faith that everything will be all right if you keep going.”
He recalled living in Christchurch at the time of the 2011 earthquake, and how the loss of life and devastation of the city affected him deeply. “I called my friend Koda in Sydney, who has been like a father to me, and he told me two things that have stayed with me. Firstly, that there are always people worse off that you, so appreciate where you and and what you have, and secondly, that through hardship comes ease – things will always get better.”
Sonny Bill said he went on to play the best rugby of his career that year, helping the All Blacks win the World Cup.
“Every day I’m grateful to live in New Zealand, and to have had the life I’ve had so far.”
Earlier he had donated one of his All Black jerseys from the 2011 campaign, which was auctioned by Barfoot & Thompson auctioneer Ross Girven. It was won by the Chairman of the MAGS Board of Trustees, Greg Moyle.
Sonny Bill was accompanied by his wife Alana, family friend Sapoe Filiga, agent and friend Koda Nasser, and fellow Albertians Filinga Filiga, Sean Collins, Tillam Kapsin, Cale Baker and Zak Raffie.
Proceeds from the evening will go towards a MAGS student leadership programme.