Sonny Bill Williams is a former New Zealand All Blacks rugby player who has transitioned to boxing. Williams played in the star-studded All Blacks team, which had veterans like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
His rugby profile and another one in boxing make him one of the most famous All Backs. Besides being only renowned, he commands a huge following across social networks. On Instagram alone, Sonny commands more than 1.5 million followers.
Indeed, Sonny is a top celebrity, and fans love his lifestyle. He lives expensively yet also religiously, which has made his fans follow him more closely. In this biography, we detail Sonny’s career, primarily focusing on his lifestyle, family, wife, and extravagant life.
PROFILE SUMMARY
Name: Sonny William Williams
Date of birth: 3 August 1985
Age: 40 years
Place of birth: Auckland, New Zealand
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 108 kg
Wife: Alana Raffie
Children: 5 children
EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY BACKGROUND
Williams was born on 3 August 1985, and he turned 40 in 2025.
The multi-talented athlete was born in Auckland, in the Mount Albert suburb of New Zealand, where he grew up, showing his talent at a young age.
Sonny grew up in a working-class, average family with his father, Loane Williams, and his mother, Lee Woolsey. He has three siblings: his older brother, John Arthur, and his younger twin sisters, Niall and Denise.
Sonny attended school at Owairaka School, Wesley Intermediate, and Mount Albert Grammar School, and was among the top athletes. His father, Loane, was a professional rugby player, but he claimed that his mother introduced him to the game.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS’ WIFE AND CHILDREN
In 2013, while in France, Sonny Bill Williams married his wife, Alana Raffie, and they have been together since then.
Alana is a proud Muslim, and she has also successfully converted her husband, Williams, to the religion.
Together, they have five children, and they take that as a blessing.
Sonny said he met and married his wife in a space of less than three months, a culture he borrowed from Muslims.
He claimed that if one knows the girl’s parents, they have an idea of how well she would raise the kids.
Since 2013, when they married, the two lovebirds love going out and travelling together.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS RUGBY CAREER: ALL BLACKS ETC
Sonny Bill Williams is one of the most dynamic and versatile athletes in modern sports history, celebrated for his success in both rugby union and rugby league. Williams began his professional career in rugby league with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) in 2004. His explosive athleticism, offloading ability, and robust defence quickly made him a standout player, earning him an NRL Premiership in 2004 and international selection for the New Zealand Kiwis.
In 2008, Williams made a highly publicised switch to rugby union, joining Toulon in France. His transition was remarkably successful. By 2010, he was playing for the All Blacks, becoming a key figure in New Zealand’s dominant era. He was part of the squads that won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015, renowned for his signature offloads and physical presence in the midfield.
Williams also made history as a dual-code international, switching back to rugby league to play for the Sydney Roosters in 2013, where he won another NRL Premiership and represented New Zealand at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. His ability to excel in both codes cemented his legacy as one of the few athletes to win major titles in rugby union and league.
Beyond rugby, Sonny Bill also ventured into professional boxing, becoming a New Zealand heavyweight champion. Known for his humility, strong faith, and leadership, Williams retired from professional rugby in 2021. His career reflects exceptional athleticism, adaptability, and impact both on and off the field, making him one of the greatest cross-code rugby players of all time.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS’ BOXING CAREER
Whilst playing rugby, Sonny embarked on his boxing career, something that shocked many of his fans.
Even though some accused him of picking estranged boxers, his career remains one to remember, given his journey.
He later won the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Heavyweight title and the World Boxing Association (WBA) International Heavyweight title, showcasing his power and athletic versatility.
With such success, Sonny proved that he comes from a rare cloth, a multi-talented athlete.