Williams shares tears over injury

A neck injury has robbed the Black Ferns Sevens of one of their key players and left Niall Williams in tears at the realisation her Olympic dream is over.

Williams, who won a silver medal in Rio in 2016, has been cruelly ruled out of the Oceania 7s lead-up tournament and the Tokyo Olympics because of the injury.

In a brave and emotional move, Williams has shared a video of herself in tears as she drives to tell her team-mates she will not be able to join them in Tokyo.

The video also features a powerful haka performed in her honour, by her team-mates.

Williams has been a critical player in the Black Ferns Sevens’ incredible run of success since losing the 2016 gold medal match to Australia in Rio.

A devastated Williams posted a message to her fans on Instagram with the emotional video.

‘‘I am grateful to still be able to walk, talk and be alive . . . I will take my time and feel everything I need too, the truth is my new journey is going to be on a damn rollercoaster of emotion but like I’ve always said I’ve got a support crew that’s second to none,’’ the mother-of-two wrote.

William shared the video to show ‘‘the reality that many athletes have to go through on the daily, injuries, own high expectations, other people’s expectations, highs, lows, wins, losses, selection, non selection, and criticism from many – this game means more to us than you may think – remember that and always be kind . . . we’re all human beings at the end of the day’’.