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Tim Nanai-Williams

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Tim Nanai Williams
Full nameTim Nanai Williams
Date of birth (1989-06-12) 12 June 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight87 kg (192 lb; 13 st 10 lb)
SchoolManurewa High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fly-Half, Full-back, Centre
Current team AS Béziers Hérault
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2017 Counties Manukau 62 (295)
2010–2018 Chiefs 84 (141)
2016–2017 Ricoh Black Rams 11 (27)
2018–2021 Clermont 47 (47)
2021-2024 Toulouse 11 (15)
Correct as of 21 April 2022[1]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015– Samoa 16 (37)
2014–2017 Barbarians 3 (0)
Correct as of 1 April 2021[2]
National sevens teams
Years Team Comps
2008–2009 New Zealand
2014–2015 Samoa

Tim Nanai-Williams (born 12 June 1989) is a New Zealand-born Samoan rugby union player. He currently plays for AS Béziers Hérault in the Pro D2. He has also represented New Zealand and Samoa in sevens rugby.

Early life and education

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Nanai-Williams was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Tavaefaga Nanai and Aolele Williams. Both his parents are Samoan-born and brought their family to New Zealand in the 1980s.[1] He was raised in a Samoan household, and speaks Samoan fluently.[2]

He grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and has said the place was "pretty rough".[3][4] He attended Manurewa High School and got involved in every sport available, but started playing in the First XV when he was 14 years old.[3]

Domestic career

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After school, Nanai Williams started playing for Counties Manukau and re-signed with for the 2010 season.[5] In the same year, Nanai-Williams signed for the Chiefs and made his Super Rugby debut for the Hamilton-based franchise, against the Sharks.[6] He stayed in the franchise until 2015, and was a key fixture in the Chiefs' Super Rugby triumphs of 2012 and 2013, proving himself an invaluable utility option as he covered wing, outside centre and full-back.[7]

After the 2015 Super Rugby season, he signed for the japanese Top League side Ricoh Black Rams.[8] In October 2016, it was announced that he would re-sign for the Chiefs in time for the 2017 Super Rugby Season[9] and with Counties Manukau.[10]

In December 2017, after 85 Super Rugby appearances,[11] he signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse Clermont Auvergne, then reigning Top 14 champions, until the end of 2021.[6]

On 11 March 2021, Williams signs for Top 14 rivals Toulouse ahead of the 2021-22 season.[12]

International career

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Nanai-Williams grew up dreaming of playing for the All Blacks and represented New Zealand at secondary schools and sevens level between 2008 and 2009.[1] Given the depth and quality of players in the country, he always had the chance of representing Samoa in the back of his mind. [13]

After being overlooked for the All Blacks for a number of years, he decided to change his international allegiance to Samoa. In doing so, he became the first player to exploit a loophole whereby playing in four tournaments on the global sevens circuit made himself eligible for the Manu Samoa fifteen-a-side team.[2][14]

Nanai-Williams admitted that the chance of playing at a Rugby World Cup or at the Olympics was a big reason for his change of allegiance, and that his best shot was in a Samoan jersey.[15]

Nanai-Williams made his test debut for Samoa in the historic game against the All Blacks in Apia, their first ever visit to play a Test match in Samoa.[16] He represented Samoa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup held in England[17] and at the 2019 Rugby World Cup played in Japan.[18] As of July 2020, he has 16 international caps.[19]

Style of play

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Nanai-Williams is renowned for his complete skillset in attack, combining speed, footwork, acceleration, vision and creativity to find spaces and exploit gaps in defences.[20][21][22] He can also cover several positions in the backline, namely, fullback, wing and centre.[6]

Personal life

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Nanai-Williams is the cousin of dual code rugby international Sonny Bill Williams and Black Ferns star Niall Williams[23][24] and the younger brother of former Cardiff Blues and Blues player Nick Williams.[25]

Growing up in Manurewa, Nanai-Williams was mates with future Ireland international Bundee Aki, and Chiefs teammate Lelia Masaga.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Chief Tim Nanai-Williams to play for Samoa". Stuff. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Meagher, Gerard (23 November 2017). "Easing eligibility rules would boost Samoa, says Tim Nanai-Williams". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Manurewa Chiefs: Tim Nanai Williams and Bundee Aki". YouTube. 5 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Meeting the Chiefs: Tim Nanai-Williams". YouTube. 23 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Nanai-Williams re-signs with Counties-Manukau". All Blacks. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Chiefs' back Tim Nanai-Williams signs three-year contract with Clermont Auvergne". Stuff. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Nanai-Williams does not harbour All Blacks regrets". ESPN.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  8. ^ "RICOH BLACK RAMS". Japan Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Tim Nanai-Williams re-signs with Chiefs after spell in Japan". Stuff. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Sport: Nanai-Williams and Kerr are back with the Counties Manukau Steelers". Stuff. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Remembering the Chiefs class of 2012". superrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Tim Nanai-Williams signs for Top14 giants". BBC Sport. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Nanai-Williams still dreams of wearing black". Stuff. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Sport: Manu Samoa keen to qualify more through 7s loophole". RNZ. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  15. ^ Stoney, Emma (26 March 2015). "Olympic Loophole Gives Rugby Players a Chance to Swap Nations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  16. ^ "All Blacks v Samoa: the historic game that stopped a nation | Rajiv Maharaj". The Guardian. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Samoa first to name World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  18. ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Two uncapped players in Samoa squad for Japan - Rugby World Cup 2019 ｜ rugbyworldcup.com". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Tim Nanai-Williams | Rugby Union | Players and Officials". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  20. ^ Kinsella, Murray (10 October 2019). "'We've got nothing to lose' - Samoa promise expansive approach against Ireland". The42. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Tim Nanai-Williams HIGHLIGHTS HD". YouTube. 29 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Tim Nanai-Williams Tribute // Young Talent". YouTube. 8 July 2013.
  23. ^ Chiefs grind out victory over Force in Perth, Supersport.com, dated 6 April 2012.
  24. ^ "Samoa vs NZ, cousin vs cousin, who won?". YouTube. 17 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Former Blues No 8 Nick Williams reduced to tears by motherly Christmas surprise". Stuff. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
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