Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The day Sonny Bill Williams lost respect for All Blacks teammate

New Zealand star Sonny Bill Williams (Getty Images)

Playing in two World Cup-winning All Blacks sides would teach a player a lot about who his teammates are, but Sonny Bill Williams learned the greatest lesson about one of his teammates away from the pitch or training paddock.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 58-cap All Black was taught a “truth of life” from an unnamed teammate during his time with the national team, who failed to “stand up when it really mattered”.

The incident occurred after then-All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen had set a curfew for the team ahead of a big match.

Video Spacer

Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

Video Spacer

Chasing the Sun on RugbyPass TV | RPTV

Chasing the Sun, the extraordinary documentary that traces the Springboks’ road to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is coming to RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

The former rugby league and union superstar opened up in an interview about what happened after the curfew was set, and how it resulted in his teammate’s words being “hollow” to him from then on.

“I was playing for the All Blacks and after a big win our coach Shags [Hansen] set a curfew because of the big game the next week,” Williams said.

“Despite that, some of us went out to celebrate a teammate’s milestone. We got back a little late, breaking the curfew.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The next morning, as we headed to the bus, a meeting was called and we were all sent to the team room. Shags wasn’t happy. It was tough seeing the disappointment in the coach, but more so in our teammates who we let down’s faces.

“He told everyone who broke the curfew to stand up. You know what? In moments like these, you really discover who has your back. I’ll never forget the teammate that didn’t stand. He was sitting next to me and he chose to stay seated.

“You know in the future, we would play together a lot, we’d go into battle. But whenever he gave those motivational talks before the game, I’ll be honest, those words meant nothing to me. They were hollow. Because he didn’t stand up when it really mattered.

“Real strength isn’t just about how much muscle you have or what you can do in the weights room. It’s about standing up for what’s right even if that means standing alone.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This lesson isn’t just about the rugby field, but rather it’s a truth of life.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

Wolfhounds vs Gwalia | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 2 | Ireland Week

New Zealand vs Australia: Behind the Scenes with the Black Ferns Sevens Team | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E06

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

47 Comments
d
dicess 294 days ago

Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.

C
Chris 294 days ago

Who listens to this retard?

He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation

M
MK 294 days ago

I’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy.

Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.


He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.

J
JH 294 days ago

Bit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going.


And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.

T
Tavita 296 days ago

SBW go fuck yourself you moron. You’re the most hypocrite person on earth.

A
Allan 296 days ago

It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.

p
pieter 295 days ago

Thanks .. Like I said I was only speculating, SBW a much better 12 than Crotty….

N
Nickers 296 days ago

It doesn’t say it was during a World Cup does it?

p
pieter 296 days ago

Talking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….

W
Wil 297 days ago

No

Islam says it must rule where it stands

Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth

C
Coral 297 days ago

I’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.

E
Equalizer 297 days ago

I'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.

s
sexy 295 days ago

That was long time ago when he was young. We’ve all made mistakes. He has been an exemplary athlete who dared to dream to be more than an All Black (which he of course was) - That unfortunately is considered a sin in a country were many have their blinkers on! Take of your blinkers and see SBW’s hard work, achievements and humility!! There is good in nearly everyone.

T
Tamawaru 296 days ago

Someone should be spanked for calling you equalizer. Come forth and show yourself.

A
A 296 days ago

Stop crying on social media Canterbury supporter. Typical Canterbury whinger. Go home to mummy.

Y
YeowNotEven 297 days ago

Interesting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.

T
The Crypto 297 days ago

I think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm.


Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.

E
EW 297 days ago

After missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.

B
Bull Shark 297 days ago

A bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person.


There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.

N
Nickers 297 days ago

Yeah but who was it?

p
pieter 296 days ago

I know him and Ryan Crotty doesen’t send each other birthday cards and Ryan has trashed him b4 in media. Just speculation. .

C
Craig 297 days ago

SBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best

p
pieter 296 days ago

I bet Robbie Fruean would disagree with you.. He literally made Fruean… hence the massive fall from grace when SBW were not next to him…. SBW was a brilliant 12, if you want to show someone that doesn't play rugby how to play 12, you show him SBW footage, you might think he is a dick but he’s a great … thank God he left boxing as he was on his way to getting killed….

I
IS 297 days ago

what you on about one of the best centers in an all blacks jersey its obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about

R
RH 297 days ago

SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.

I
IS 297 days ago

no no he isn’t

F
Frank 297 days ago

100%

A
Andrew 298 days ago

Mmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.

p
pieter 295 days ago

Some men are worse than women when it comes to gossip… SBW was a great rugby player, poor boxer and turned his life around for the better, I also admire he’s humility and honesty, I think SBW will one day look back on this article with regret, if he doesen't already… it is really sad seeing the comments…

m
mg 296 days ago

Yeah no kidding. What’s SBW’s point telling this story all those years later?


Let me tell another story. It’s about a guy desperate to be relevant telling old stories about unnamed people letting him down and not having integrity; while ironically not having the integrity to keep a simple, kinda pointless story in the past. Course not naming names but I read an article about the unnamed athlete retelling the story.

J
JD 297 days ago

Don’t know about liking it, but it speaks to what most people already know - that SBW is a moron. May have been a good player but wouldn't know how to spell his own name.

f
fl 297 days ago

It’s not the best article i’ve ever read, but I found it mildly interesting

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
France player ratings vs England | 2025 Six Nations

Sorry my delivery on that joke was a bit bland. But to reply to the couple of good points you make, to me it just seemed like they had no plan with why Gatland was staying on. I mean the plan seemed to be “just get us a win against Italy and we can continue on as we are”, which is just terrible if that’s what Gatland was trying to achieve for Wales imo.


Did it just happen to be Italy that he saw his team weren’t able to achieve his vision of success? I mean Italy are a very good side so its by no means a lost cause to not look like world beaters. Sure his focus should have been on more transient factors like growth and style for a full rebuild, not trying to avoid the wooden spoon.


Which brings me to you main point, that would be exactly what the benefit of dropping down a tier would be. A chance to really implement something, get good at it, then take it up a level again once you’re ready. Even for Italy it must have been an incredibly brutal environment to have been trying to develop as a side.


Not saying of course that the other EU teams would be any better, but it might be better for everyone if say ‘years of tough losses’ are shared between countries, rather than see Wales go through this journey two, three, possible four years in a row. Of course the main reason they don’t want to miss just one 6N season is because it would probably tank the game in their country missing out on all that revenue. I have always said they should look at widening the revenue share, there are plenty of competitions that have systems to keep bottom teams competitive, and the 6N would only make more money if it was a tierd competition with prom/rel.

36 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Fissler Confidential: A tale of two Springbok transfers Fissler Confidential: A tale of two Springbok transfers
Search