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tournament after an injuryplagued buildup.

It was a career unlike any other and Williams left content with what he had achieved in the black jersey. Yet one wonders how much more he would have done had he remained in rugby in 2013.

Williams’ record with the Kiwis wasn’t great – 12 tests for four wins, seven losses and a draw. But the stats don’t tell the full story, while injury prevented him from adding to his tally.

Even early in his career, Williams was among the best in Kiwi sides that often found themselves out-gunned by Australia and Great Great Britain.

Indeed, watching the then19-year-old debutant, New Zealand’s youngest ever test player, take the fight to the starstudded Kangaroos in 2004 was a sight to behold.

No stranger to outrageous signings, Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal still took a big risk when he opened the door for Williams to switch codes, despite having no background in union.

A runner-up finish in the 2009-10 European Challenge Cup was the closest Williams came to winning any silverware during his 33-game stint in the south of France. But he clearly left an impression with Boudjellal, who reportedly offered Williams $5 million over three years to extend his stay before he decided to pursue a place in the All Blacks.

Williams faced a steep sevens learning curve in his bid to play at the Rio Olympics. But while he did manage to tick another box in his stunning list of sporting accomplishments, it ended in disaster.

After impressing then-coach Gordon Tietjens enough throughout the World Series to make it to Rio, Williams was struck down by a season-ending Achilles injury in the first game against Japan.

New Zealand went on to lose