Sonny Bill Williams embraces Islam

New Zealand rugby player Sonny Bill Williams embraces Islam
He's converted from a rugby league teen sensation into an All
Black juggernaut, and along the way become a promising
heavyweight boxer.

But Sonny Bill Williams has also made a spiritual conversion to

Islam.
While rumors of the 25-year-old sporting superstar's religious
beliefs have circulated for some time, the Herald on Sunday can
reveal he made the leap of faith two years ago.
He has since become the first Muslim to wear the All Black jersey,
and requested halal food during the Northern Hemisphere tour
last year.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when followers are
forbidden from eating between dawn and sunset, falls in August
this year - when the All Blacks play three Tri Nations matches. It is
during the final build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
Williams regularly attends Friday prayer sessions at a Christchurch
mosque, according to friends.
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand first vice-
president Javed Khan said his allegiance was commonly known
among the Muslim community.
"He is practicing the religion and he is a great role model for the
youngsters. We will pray to Allah that he will win the World Cup
for us. Everyone talks about it you know. The Muslim community,
everyone knows everyone, you know."
Williams' manager Khoder Nasser and mentor, league star and
boxer Anthony Mundine, are both Muslims, as is his brother
Johnny, who lives with him in Christchurch.
Williams' friend Tairek Smith said he had regularly prayed with
the 1.91m, 108kg second five-eighth since he embraced the Sunni
branch of Islam during a ceremony at the Regent's Park mosque
in Sydney's western suburbs in 2008, where former Canterbury
Bulldogs teammate Hazem El Masri attends.
All Black manager Darren Shand said the star's religious beliefs
had a "minimal" impact on the team.
He said: "He has talked to us about his dietary needs and we do
make some concessions there. We request halal beef and so on
but he doesn't make a big deal of it.
"We always leave players' religious affiliations and a lot of those
holistic things outside of the game. That's their personal life and
they decide what they do."
When asked if his faith clashed with the All Blacks' philosophy
for encouraging players to be free thinking and self reliant,
Shand said Williams was a "sponge" for information.
"That's why he is so good at all the sports he has been involved
in. He just ticks all the boxes. He wants to be the best."
Since converting to Islam, Williams has put a string of
embarrassing alcohol-related incidents behind him.