No training as SBW becomes a father

Editor

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams missed training on Tuesday as his wife gave birth to a baby daughter back in New Zealand.

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams missed training on Tuesday as his wife gave birth to a baby daughter back in New Zealand.

Williams followed the birth from the All Blacks’ training base in Wales

“The proudest moment of my life #alhumdulliah,” said Williams in a tweet along with a photo of his new daughter’s foot.

“Sonny wasn’t training simply because he was monitoring the progress of his wife,” said All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster.

“We’re delighted Sonny and his wife Alana had a little baby girl this morning and he was following that event so we’re delighted.

“The family’s good and it’s all on top of [prop forward] Charlie [Faumuina] and Michelle’s second child last week, so it’s been a week of celebration for the All Blacks with babies.

“It’s a massive time and a special time for them as a couple, and Sonny was involved in whatever way he could be this morning.”

Williams’ absence from training isn’t expected to trouble New Zealand’s preparations for this weekend’s Test match, with Conrad Smith additionally back in camp after returning home last week to attend to a personal matter.

“It’s not a major problem and in fact it’s quite exciting. It’s first things first and as an All Blacks family we like to celebrate these sort of events.”