Sonny Bill and his sister ready for Rio
New Zealand will bring one of global sport's biggest names, and his sibling, to Brazil for rugby's return to the Olympic fold.
|||Auckland - New Zealand will bring one of global sport's biggest names, and his sibling, to Brazil for rugby's return to the Olympic fold.
Sonny Bill Williams is used to being the centre of attention, but after being confirmed in New Zealand's rugby squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he was happy to leave the spotlight to his sister.
Niall Williams, a 28-year-old mother of two, was called up for the women's team as the famous All Blacks announced the 24 players who will represent the nation when rugby returns to the Olympic Games, in the sevens form of the game, after a 92-year absence.
“I was happy when I got the phone call, but the biggest cheer we got in my household was when my sister made it,” Sonny Bill said.
“It's awesome, just seeing where she's come from, a mother of two, when she first started her journey she wasn't contracted, she had to get up in the early hours of the morning to do her training and then look after her girls and then train again at night. I'm proud of her.”
While Sonny Bill mixes speed, ability and massive bone-crunching hits his sister has shown she has handling skills. One of the most interesting characters in global sport, Sonny Bill, who has won two rugby world cups and also been New Zealand's heavyweight boxing champion, said his call-up justified his decision to switch to the seven-a-side version of the game.
“The reason why I have put myself in this situation for the whole year was to try to make this squad — this was the dream, to go to the Olympics with the New Zealand sevens side,” he said.
The men's team will be captained by Scott Curry, who returns from a shoulder injury suffered in December. “The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of world sport so to get an opportunity to go is really special,” he said.
“What's really exciting for me is just being part of the wider New Zealand Olympic team.”
NZL men's sevens team: Scott Curry (captain), Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Gillies Kaka, Tim Mikkelson, Augustine Pulu, Teddy Stanaway, Regan Ware, Joe Webber, Sonny Bill Williams. Reserves: Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond.
NZL women's sevens team: Shakira Baker, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Goss (captain), Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Niall Williams, Portia Woodman. Reserves: Michaela Blyde, Shiray Tane.
African News Agency