Ali Williams retires from Test rugby

Ali Williams retires from Test rugby

He took to YouTube to announce his decision.

"I'm hanging up the black jersey, it's been an amazing 10 years but it's time to call it quits," he said.

Williams was part of the All Blacks training camp in Mt Maunganui earlier in the week.

He will continue to lead the Blues in Super Rugby for the remainder of the year.

The 32-year-old World Cup winner in 2011 played 77 Tests since making his All Blacks debut in 2002 and was part of the New Zealand World Cup sides in 2003 and 2007.

Selected for Auckland in 2001, he made the Blues side for the next year and was then included in the All Blacks touring team to Britain at the end of 2002 and made his Test debut against England on that tour.

He almost missed the 2003 World Cup after a pin had to be inserted in his foot after he suffered a stress fracture at a pre-Cup training camp. However, he was included and while missing the first two games he played in the remainder of New Zealand's ill-fated campaign.

Williams had to convince the new All Blacks coach in 2004, Graham Henry that he was worth a place in the side and he missed five Tests but made the end of the season tour.

His 2005 season did not get off to an auspicious start when he was banned for six weeks for stomping on Richie McCaw in a Super 12 game. But by the start of the international season he was included in the side and it was against the British and Irish Lions that he produced what is generally regarded as the finest form of his career. He demonstrated that with a superb lineout performance in the first Test in which he claimed the All Blacks' first try when taking a Lions lineout throw and driving through to score.

Issues at the Blues in the 2007 season resulted in Williams transferring to the Crusaders.

When he returned to Auckland in 2009 he suffered crippling Achilles tendon injuries which denied him almost two years of rugby. However, he was back in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Accolades for retiring Ali Williams

32-year-old Williams retires from the All Blacks as the second most capped lock of all time, playing 77 Tests in a career which spanned a decade from 2002 to 2012.

Williams made the announcement this morning to the 29,600 followers on his Twitter account (@AliWilliams): "Guys, I just want to let you know first that I'm retiring from international rugby. I'm hanging up the black jersey. It's been an amazing 10 years but it’s time to call it quits. But I'm not hanging up the boots yet."

Williams will continue to play for the Blues.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen congratulated Williams on his career in the All Blacks and said he respected Williams’ decision to retire and go out on his terms.

“By retiring he is doing what’s best for the All Blacks and showing a tremendous amount of integrity by putting the team ahead of himself. He knew he may have been selected for the All Blacks again this year, but he also knows that it is better for the team to have a younger player in the position.

“Ali has been a fantastic All Black. He is a player who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, he is a real character who loved being an All Black and wearing the jersey proudly and representing his country, and that’s what we love about him.

“He would have played a lot more games for the team if injuries hadn’t robbed him of the opportunity. But it took a lot of courage to come back to top–flight rugby and that is a measure of the man and shows just how much he loves the game.”

Blues Head Coach Sir John Kirwan said: “I’m incredibly proud of Ali; it must have been a very difficult decision for him to make. A lot of players at his stage in their career are looking to go overseas, but he really wants to commit to the Blues and stay here and help this young side grow and achieve their goals, which is fantastic.

"He’s been a great All Black and I’m looking forward to him being fully committed and focussed on the Blues and enjoying himself.”

New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew added: “Ali has been one of the great servants of New Zealand rugby and, on behalf of New Zealand rugby, we congratulate him on his All Blacks career. He still has a lot to offer the game here, is obviously making an outstanding contribution to the Blues and wants to continue doing that which is great for New Zealand rugby.”


Ali Williams – his All Blacks career
Full name: Alexander James Williams
Born: 30 April 1981 in Auckland
Physical: 2.02m, 119 kg
Position: lock
Province: Auckland
Super Rugby team: Blues
All Blacks Tests: 77
Total All Blacks games: 78 (77 Tests plus one match against the Barbarians in 2004)
All Blacks Test points: 35 (seven tries)
All Blacks Number: 1022
All Blacks Debut: 9 November 2002, vs England at London, aged 21 years, 193 days
Last Test: 17 November 2012, vs Italy at Rome, aged 31 years, 201 days


Ali Williams was called into the All Blacks for the end-of-year-tour to Europe in 2002 on the back of strong performances for his Auckland provincial side and the Blues Super Rugby team. He made his Test debut on 9 November against England at Twickenham and quickly established himself as a first-choice lock in the national side, combining his athletic skill in the open with his core set-piece roles, especially in lineouts.

One of the most colourful characters to play for the All Blacks in recent times, he was selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was in outstanding form in 2005: he impressed in the British and Irish Lions Series, scoring two tries, starred in the All Blacks “Grand Slam” tour of the UK and Ireland and was named by the New Zealand Rugby Almanack as one of its five players of the year.

In 2007 his season was cut short when he suffered a broken jaw in the second Test of the year against France but he recovered in time to take a full role in the Rugby World Cup later that year, playing in four of the five matches. In 2008 he formed a formidable second row combination with Brad Thorn but his All Blacks career was put on hold in 2009 and 2010 when he suffered major Achilles injuries and underwent three operations.

He played his way back into the All Blacks in 2011 and was a member of the victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup squad. Injury struck again in 2012 when Williams suffered a serious knee injury in the second Test of the year against Ireland. He returned to the squad for the Air New Zealand European Tour playing his 77th Test against Italy on 17 November. His 77 Test caps include 16 Tests against Australia, 14 against South Africa and 11 against France.

thanks for the memories ali willams, :o)

cant have been easy to do what he did, but the writing was on the wall and he just spared hansen a very uncomfortable talk which would of happened in the next year or so.
i hope a few others who are past their prime and not contributing as much as they use to take note and follow williams lead.

meanwhile in other threads, debates are being raised about wanting bakkies to return to the Boks, LMAO, :oD

 Congrats to Ali on a stellar career. A timely decision considering his run of poor to average form over the past few years. Good on him for commiting to the Blues instead of cashing in offshore. Im pleased that he has been able to leave the international arena on his own terms rather than face the public  disappointment of non selection (it wasdefinately on the cards this year). The end of an era is nigh.  Uncertain and exciting times ahead for NZ rugby. I suspect McCaw and Carter will be hanging up their boots in 2015. Some "old timer"  ABs may not even make it til then......Nonu, Weepu and co'.

Oh well. Good on ya Ali. 

ali williams vs Boks - 10 wins from 14 tests

bakkis botha vs ABs - 7 wins from 14 tests

williams vs botha head to head - played 8 tests against each other, williams won 5 of those tests, bakkies won 3.
 

between bakkies suspensions and williams injuries, a remarkbly low 8 tests against each other other. almost half of williams & bakkies Boks tests didnt have one or the other in them.

winner - ali williams by unaniomus points decision, LMAO, :oP

Another pretty averag lock of course but by nz standards very good.

But in the spirit of the moment congrats to Ali on his long career. I have to say in his defence his stomping on wee mcaaaaw is not a blemish on his career as mcaaaw was no doubt begging for it as usual.

Bokbe he was competing against the best lock in the world we didnt have a lock combination at that stage as wee matfield - so loved by the abs - was palying in the backline - although to be fair he didnt always play there as Bakkies also noted.  You cant play lock at 106 kg Bokbe is that simple - hence ou snaspter insisting matfield doesnt know his own weight - what else can snapster do in the circumstances. I have him ove a barrel on this one.

But this thread is all about Ali so sincere congrats Ali - well done. 

Poly you talking about the meads who got uppity with Frik Du Preez and got flattened?