Sonny Bill Williams will remain on tour with the All Blacks if his wife gives birth to their first child over the next four weeks.
Set to make his return to international rugby in Saturday’s tour-opening Test against the US in Chicago, ex-NRL star Williams clarified his stance on the birth to coach Steve Hansen before the tour began.
Williams’ wife Alana is expecting their first child in two to three weeks’ time while teammate Charlie Faumuina’s wife Rachelle is heavily pregnant with their second child.
“Both of them are staying on the tour regardless of whether the baby comes early or the baby comes late,” Hansen told NZ Newswire.
Hansen has always maintained there is no protocol for All Blacks fathers-in-waiting.
Players make their own decision about whether to attend the birth of their children, with a number having missed Tests in recent seasons for that reason.
This year centre Conrad Smith skipped August’s drawn Test against Australia in Sydney, then hooker Dane Coles flew home from Argentina a month ago. Both watched their first child born, a son.
Claypole
Guest
I'm with zero gain, sorry tinman, apart from agreeing with him about regretting it, he's got every right to his opinion in the first place. Just as you've got the right to think he's wrong. If playing in a football game's more important to you than family that's your call. I just wouldn't agree. It's okay to have different opinions. BTW, how did you get 'daddy issues' out of that?
tinman
Guest
Who said yours is the correct decision on this matter!? If you got daddy issues... mate take it somewhere else. A qualified doctor maybe?
Zero Gain
Guest
Yeah, of course its his decision. I just hope he makes the right one. I can still judge if the decision is correct in my opinion.
tinman
Guest
SBW choice & no ones else to judge.
Zero Gain
Guest
If this is true SBW will regret that for the rest of his life. The birth of your child is not an event you can elect to miss to play a game of rugby.