As he lay in a hospital bed preparing for his fourth major neck surgery, the legendary All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams shared a poignant message with young athletes and their guardians. From his personal Instagram account, Williams, aged 40, delved into the often harsh realities of professional sports and the critical importance of planning for life beyond the field.
“This is a reminder for young athletes and parents pushing them to pursue a career as a professional athlete,” Williams expressed moments before his surgery. He highlighted the physical toll the sport can take, stating, "
“This is the reality sometimes of this sport we love and play.”
Despite his numerous injuries, Williams has no regrets, cherishing the joy his sports career brought him.Williams' journey through professional rugby, league, and boxing has been illustrious, marked by 58 Test appearances for the All Blacks from 2010 to 2019. Yet, he candidly revealed the solitude often faced by athletes post-career: “Please remember this, I ain’t got no one here paying my bills from back in the days, no organisations, no CEOs ringing me making sure I’m okay. In high-performance space, if you’re not performing, what will happen? See you later with a handshake.”
His advice to aspiring sports professionals is to not solely focus on their athletic pursuits. “The reality of things is that it is a business, so make sure you look after yourself, look after your family, make choices that will support yourself and your family for the long haul, but also have a back-up plan,” he advised.
Williams himself dropped out of school at 15 to chase his sporting dreams, a decision that he later balanced by returning to university and obtaining a degree. “I didn’t have a formal education, I dropped out of school at 15 but later on in my career, towards the end of it, I went back to university and got a degree,” he shared, describing his path as more of an exception than a rule. "
“I’m an anomaly, dropping out of school, putting all my eggs in one basket, I am an anomaly,”
he said, urging others to consider education or trades as viable backup plans given the brevity of most sports careers.Williams' story is a stark, yet inspiring reminder of the complexities of sports careers and the necessity for a balanced approach to life and professional ambitions.