Williams siblings eye Olympic double act
NIALL: PILLOW-FIGHTS HONED SONNY’S TACKLING
New Zealand’s double Rugby World Cup winning centre Sonny Bill Williams has dreams of joining his sister Niall at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next summer.
Rugby returns to the Olympic fold after a 92-year hiatus next August and Williams, 30 — who is at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens this weekend, to watch his sister play in the HSBC Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series opener — says he would love to be part of it.
“It’s everyone’s dream,” he said. “My sister is playing and it’s a massive achievement by her.
“I’m lucky enough to be here with my wife and daughter supporting her, but obviously it’s also my dream to not only to make it with the All Blacks at sevens but also make it to the Olympics as well.
“In saying that there’s a lot of hard work to go into it,” added the Chiefs midfielder, who famously gave his World Cup winners’ medal away to a young fan after New Zealand’s 34-17 final win over Australia at Twickenham in October.
“I’m coming here today to get a feel for it, and just seeing the type of athletes playing in all the different teams is amazing.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge to myself to make the All Blacks side, but also to make the Olympics, and if we do that then obviously to try and win it is another thing in itself.
“I’m just here having fun at the moment soaking it up, but at the same time, when the men’s [World Rugby Sevens Series] play, I’ll be having a keen eye on all the teams, not just New Zealand.”
Williams, who has also boxed professionally on the sidelines of his rugby career and is unbeaten in six bouts, added that the Olympics had always been on his radar.
“I didn’t start playing footy or rugby until I was about nine, but I always knew when the Olympics were on each year.
“So, obviously that’s the dream [to get there], but there are a lot of boxes that need to be ticked before that. I’m just coming here, trying to soak it all up, but at the same time I’ll go away from here and work very hard.”
Niall Williams, 27, said she would love it if both she and her big brother were on that flight to Rio. She came on as a substitute in New Zealand’s loss to Russia yesterday, then started the win over Brazil — but was sin binned for a high tackle.
“I think it is any sportsperson’s dream,” she said. “The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, so if you made it there in any code it would be awesome.
“My brother is a big inspiration to me obviously with him being a world icon in sport, but even before he was famous I always looked up to him.”
“When I was younger me and my twin sister would run into the lounge with a pillow and he and my other brother would be there waiting to smash us, so I take some of the credit for his tackling,” she joked.
My sister is playing and it’s a massive achievement by her. Obviously it’s also my dream to not only to make it with the All Blacks at sevens but also make it to the Olympics as well.”
Sonny Williams World Cup winner
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