Sonny Bill Williams

Williams in 2014, Australian Embassy in Samoa, photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website – www.dfat.gov.au

Birth Name: Sonny William Williams

Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Birth: 3 August, 1985

Ethnicity:
*father – Samoan
*mother – Welsh, English

Sonny Bill Williams, nicknamed “SBW,” is a New Zealand rugby union player, rugby league player, and heavyweight boxer. A second-row, centre, and lock in rugby league, he has played for Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters, and Toronto Wolfpack, and the New Zealand national team. A centre and wing in rugby union, he has played for Toulon, Canterbury, Crusaders, Chiefs, Panasonic Wild Knights, Counties Manukau, and Blues, as well as the New Zealand national team and New Zealand Sevens.

He is the son of Lee Woolsey and John Williams. His father is Samoan. His mother has Welsh and English ancestry. Sonny Bill has dual citizenship, New Zealand and Samoa. He converted to Islam in 2009.

Sonny Bill is a brother of rugby league player John Arthur Williams, and rugby sevens player and New Zealand international touch football captain Niall Williams. Sonny Bill is a cousin of rugby league players Marcus Perenara and Henry Perenara, who is also a referee. He is also a cousin of siblings, rugby union players Nick Williams and Tim Nanai-Williams.

Sonny Bill is married to Alana Raffie, and has four children.

Sonny Bill’s paternal grandmother likely is named Nellie. She likely was the granddaughter of Fuamatu Niusila/Nu’usila Williams and Sisilia Moemau’u Satele.

Sonny Bill’s maternal grandfather was named William James “Bill” Woolsey. William was a rugby league player.

Sonny Bill’s maternal grandmother was Denise Francesca Phillips (the daughter of William T. Phillips and Gladys Mary Sage). Denise was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Gladys was born in Maindee, St Matthew, Monmouthshire, the daughter of Daniel Sage and Sarah Ann Humphreys.

A picture of Sonny Bill’s maternal grandparents can be seen here.

Source: Obituary of Sonny Bill’s maternal grandmother, Denise Francesca (Phillips) Woolsey – http://notices.nzherald.co.nz