Sonny Bill Williams has landed a job as a pro-chancellor in an academic institute.
The former NRL star and All Blacks legend started the position last month but was inaugurated on Tuesday in an official ceremony, and issued a personal statement on Thursday.
“Sonny Bill Williams, a global sports icon and passionate advocate for social equity, has built an extraordinary career and earned a stellar reputation on the global stage,” the Malaysian Islamic institute Albukhary International University said in a statement.
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“From his humble beginnings in inner-city Auckland to iconic triumphs at Twickenham, Eden Park, and Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, Sonny Bill’s athletic journey is nothing short of remarkable.”
Williams, who also competed in the boxing ring during and after his football playing days, converted to Islam in 2009.
“For someone who dropped out of school at 14 and was given a chance to change my life through sports, this appointment is a proud privilege to be part of a university that does the same through education,” Williams said on social media.
“Along with changing my families situation, I was also able to attain a university degree.”
Williams’ role is to help students become “well-rounded, globally competitive and socially responsible”.
He called his university — which is in Malaysia’s north not far from Thailand — “a diverse international community” with an “enriched learning environment”.
“It’s an honour to be pro-chancellor in a university that fosters success, growth and leadership,” he said.
“Currently there aren’t any students from Australasia or the pacific island, something I am passionate about changing.”
The university said Williams carried him with “positive values and a wealth of leadership, discipline and community enrichment”.
Williams has previously admitted to a life of “chasing girls”, drinking, and spending “lavishly”.
But he said the lifestyle left him with “hollowness and emptiness in my heart”.
He now has five children with his wife Alana Raffie.
Earlier this year talkback radio veteran Ray Hadley called Williams an embarrassment and said he should be sacked as a rugby union commentator.
It was an intriguing position from Hadley given he works for the same company that employed Williams.
Hadley is a breakfast radio host for 2GB and Williams was commentating rugby union for Stan (they are both owned by Nine Entertainment).
“I don’t know how this bloke has continued to be employed by the network that employs me,” Hadley said.
“That’s a decision for people who are on a higher post than me.
“It’s embarrassing he’s employed by this organisation. I’m embarrassed to be in the same camp as him.
“How he sustains his job given his monosyllabic efforts on TV, I’ll never know, let alone his dim-witted approach on social media.”
Hadley has had several issues with Williams and has an intense dislike of his social media behaviour.