All Blacks: Sonny Bill Williams thriving in new position after shock career switch

David Skippers
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Former All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams.

All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams has started his stint as the Pro-chancellor at the Albukhary International University (AIU) and is flourishing in his new career move.

Last month it was revealed that the 39-year-old was appointed to the important academic position at the university which is situated in Alor Setar in Malaysia and he wasted little time in settling into his new surroundings.

Surprising appointment

The appointment was a surprising one as Williams dropped out of high school as a teenager but resumed his studies in 2018, when he enrolled for a Bachelor of Applied Management degree at Otago Polytechnic alongside other players from his Super Rugby team the Blues and he graduated in 2019.

Williams, who made 58 Test appearances and won back-to-back Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015, was inaugurated as AIU’s Pro-chancellor on Tuesday before appearing at a graduation ceremony at the university on Wednesday.

The multi sports code star also shone as a rugby league player and had 10 professional fights as a boxer which resulted in him being crowned the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association’s heavyweight champion.

All Blacks: High school drop out Sonny Bill Williams makes another shock career switch

On Wednesday, he changed into a set of academic robes after arriving at the university.

Williams was then formally introduced as the AIU’s Pro-chancellor and after the graduation ceremony he was seen giving a talk to students at the university.

Enjoying his new role

“It has been an amazing journey for me to accept the role of Pro Chancellor of Albukhary International University,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“The convocation ceremony today showed me the true essence of what the university is about in uplifting students from unprivileged backgrounds and giving them an opportunity at the very critical point in their lives through higher education.

“These students with the blessing of the Almighty will go on to become leaders of the future and role models for society.

“I had the honour of awarding each and every of the 218 graduating students and excited to watch them grow into the future society that we leave behind.”

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Internationals Sonny Bill Williams

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