Boxing Now Sonny Bill-Williams’ Main Focus

Attending a dinner in Sydney, breaking his fast at the mid-point of the month of Ramadan, Auckland-born Sonny Bill Williams is much in demand – from the hosts of the event and Sydney’s Pacific Islander and Islamic communities, Tusdiq Khan reports for Britain’s The Times.

The 35-year-old announced his retirement from both codes of rugby last month, but he remains as busy as ever, Khan writes for the newspaper. His boxing career is now the main sporting focus, alongside his obligations to his wife Alana and four young children. Add to that the challenges of fasting.

“The beauty of boxing training is that I programme it around myself with regards to the family and the best time for fasting,” Williams says.

Williams is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league, and is one of only 21 players to have won multiple Rugby World Cups.

Williams converted to Islam in 2009, while in France playing for Toulon. He is the first Muslim to play for the All Blacks.

Original article by Tusdiq Khan, The Sunday Times, May 2, 2021.