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Mon 2 Nov 2015 | 08:12
Sonny Bill Williams gives World Cup winners medal away to young fan, but gets given another one

20
Comments

Having won the Rugby World Cup for a second time in succession, midfield star Sonny Bill Williams did something that those watching on could hardly believe. After a young fan took to the field and was tackled by security, SBW then escorted him off, and gave him his winners medal.

Young fan Charlie Line, who is 14-years-old and actually not a Kiwi, but from Somerset, was taken down during the All Blacks' lap of honour at Twickenham. Williams helped him up and had a chat, as Liam Messam placed an All Blacks beanie on his head. Williams then placed the medal around his neck.

"I was walking around doing a lap of honour with the boys and a young fella came running out and he got smoked by the security guard, like full on tackled him. I felt sorry for the little fella," said Williams.

"I know he'll appreciate it and when he gets older he'll be telling his kids – that's more special than it just hanging on a wall. Better for it to be hanging around his neck than mine. I'm sure he'll remember it for a while."

The impromptu act of goodwill has gone a long way, as the video footage went viral, receving millions of views across youtube and social networks.


Alma Rugby from Brazil captured the moment

Williams later posted a photo on his instagram page, accompanied by the words: "Only takes one thing to change someone's life. Enjoy it Charlie bro."

At last night's World Rugby Awards, the gesture was repaid as Williams was given another medal, with master of ceremonies Alex Payne saying: "World Rugby would like every winner to go home with a medal and they have found the final one."

Williams received a standing ovation as he went up to collect the medal.

Sonny Bill Williams receiving a second Rugby World Cup winners...

Sonny Bill Williams receiving a second Rugby World Cup winners' medal after he graciously gave away his to a young fan after the final #WorldRugbyAwards

Posted by Rugby World Cup on Sunday, November 1, 2015

In an interview from the awards last night, Sonny Bill spoke of how proud he is to be a Kiwi, and when asked about what he did for the young fan (around 0:40 into the below video), he said "I just wanted to put a smile on his face."

A week ago the cross code star made headlines after he was seen consoling dejected Springbok centre Jesse Kriel following the tense semi final clash. The photos also went viral as fans appreciated the gesture, which was obviously spot on when it comes to rugby's core values.


 Here is an updated, HD version of the medal incident

Posted By: Grant Constable

20 Comments

  • badra100
    6:47 AM 20/01/2016

    Do people who complain about the boy running onto the pitch understand the emotional part of sport? It shouldn't be encouraged but this was one of the priceless moments this World Cup.

    Jiya Ali | http://nzvspak.t20worldcup-2016.com/live-tv-coverage

  • drg
    11:56 PM 09/11/2015

    More specifically, Glaswegian...

  • stroudos
    11:34 AM 09/11/2015

    It makes complete sense. When a person runs on the pitch towards the players, Security doesn't have time to weigh up all the factors involved, like size and perceived intent. His job is simply to stop random members of the public from causing harm to the players and/or pitch.

    He didn't have time to ascertain whether this was an innocent child, (incidentally Sony Bill mis-estimated his age by about 6 years), or a very small angry Scotsman*.

    All he can, indeed must, do is neutralise any potential threat immediately and THEN assess the situation. Which is exactly what he did.


    * Note: I realise Scotland had nothing to do with it, but when I try to picture a small, angry psychopath with malevolent intent, the image in my head is unmistakably Scottish.

  • drg
    5:57 PM 07/11/2015

    Because as soon as it happened the guard had 4 or 5 New Zealand mountains surrounding him who basically told him "it's fine" and suggested he back away, you can clearly see the security guard signalling he was not happy with the outcome. Also whilst it's not impossible, it would be more unlikely the kid would go up for a hug and then carried out an attack as it shows far more planning.

  • dancarter
    2:27 AM 07/11/2015

    Your logic doesn't make sense. Even if he had a weapon on him, he could have easily carried out an attack afterwards. The guard doesn't search him, and he could easily have just essentially wrapped him up in a bear hug fashion to stop him. He didn't harm the boy but he easily could have given the significant size difference between them both. There was no need to try and smash the kid back in a rugby tackle, he's just a guy on a power trip with an over-inflated sense of his own importance.

  • stroudos
    10:35 AM 06/11/2015

    Exactly. The bloke was just doing his job. And did it exceptionally well too. Totally neutralised the potential threat without doing any harm to the kid.

    Two words for Sonny Bill re his "if it were my nephew I'd have given him a hiding" comment:

    Monica Seles.

  • drg
    1:26 PM 04/11/2015

    Definitely agree with you guys regarding the security. In fact some of most interesting security tends to come from down under where the guys are normally rugby players themselves and take massive pleasure in annihilating any pitch invader... so to read that SBW said something like, had it been one of his nephews or brother, he'd have had a scuffle with the security...

    Like Stroudos said, it's probably far fetched but what if this little kid was some Aus psycho who wanted revenge or SBW psychotic fan who wants to drink his blood... idk... security is there for a reason and again, as Stroudos said, if they just all stood around going "aww look a little kid".. they'd be a bit BS at their job... which is ironic considering the AB's are pretty damn good at their job...

  • sangdue
    7:30 PM 03/11/2015

    I agree to you at some point. The security executed his job perfectly and when he saw SBW reaction he stood off. Well done. SBW also did a nice thing, giving away a gold medal, but Stroudos, isn't that SBW:s choice if he wants to give it away? But at some point I also come to think, isn't SBW:s nice gesture to exhort this kind of behavior? Something like "Good for you kid, you did an illegal thing, hers's your medal." Or I'm I being to cynical...?

  • c_cube
    11:03 PM 02/11/2015

    SBC not going away...

  • c_cube
    11:02 PM 02/11/2015

    SBW you are an ambassador for the game!

  • lockdog
    8:37 PM 02/11/2015

    That was awesome to see. That wouldn't happen in the United States following the SuperBowl. In the USA, the guard would have beat on the kid, and the players would've been arrested for interfering.

  • stroudos
    8:29 PM 02/11/2015

    (First) like is from me. Not sure why I'm pleased to have confirmation of being a misery guts. Age probably. Think it was all that trick and treat bollocks that put me in a bad mood initially; that and the impending doom of Christmas. Shit I am getting old. Back to the armchair for a brandy and a snooze I think.

  • stroudos
    8:23 PM 02/11/2015

    Cheers Guy. I realise I'm in the minority on this point, but I'm still right. ;)

  • stroudos
    8:19 PM 02/11/2015

    A much misunderstood bloke. For me, it's been always been more a case of exceptionally determined and highly motivated young athlete seizing every opportunity that came his way. Always has shown a keen sense of fair play and honour. Remember that move back to league- said he'd made a gentleman's agreement with his league boss and delivered on it. OK I'm not stupid, I realise the possibility of doubling up on world cups must have been a factor.
    I've never seen any arrogance in the bloke - especially when you consider his achievements. Who knows what goes on behind he scenes but he seems happy to play off the bench and keeps his head down and works very hard indeed.

    Wonder what's on his agenda after the Olympics? Back to league for a tilt at yet another World Cup presumably.

  • oldflyhalf
    7:41 PM 02/11/2015

    Until the early 90s the rugby pitch was invaded to the children after finishing a match to touch their idols and enjoy together, and today this has become "a crimea of lese majesty".
    Today, it's hard for me to understand if the rugby world to evolved, or the contrary. Is just a thought.

  • oldflyhalf
    7:15 PM 02/11/2015

    Absolutely, totally agree !

    Sonny Bill Williams, reunited with Charlie Line : "'Ur part of the team now bro'." ...two children, one 14 and one 29, but the last, with a huge heart of 24k gold. ...huge, is the deep spirit of rugby transposed in real life !

  • danknapp
    4:48 PM 02/11/2015

    You miserable git :)

  • guy
    4:08 PM 02/11/2015

    Somehow I find it quite ironic and fitting that a bloke, until recently constantly acused of being a money-driven, selfish gloryboy who in fact shouldn't be in the Allblacks squad anyway, is capable of doing something so utterly selfless. IMHO those 90 seconds have done more for the image of our glorious sport in my rugby-starved country than the absolutely fantastic tournament as a whole.

    God I wish I hadn't sold my shares in HumblePie Inc. a few weeks back; I would have been rich by now.

  • guy
    3:58 PM 02/11/2015

    Although for once in my life I don't (fully) agree with you, you still made me laugh. Plus one for that. I guess, like myself, you've got a serious case of Post World Cup Hangover.

  • stroudos
    3:45 PM 02/11/2015

    Well I say hats off to the security guard! Beautiful tackle. Teenage kid of not, that is a threat running on the field heading directly towards the players and he didn't take any chances. All these people complaining Security was too heavy because it was "just a kid" need to contemplate the repercussions had he allowed said kid to stick a blade in Sonny Bill's arm.

    "Young fulla got hurt"? Diddums. Don't run on the pitch then you little scrote. Anyway, thanks to some very nicely executed technique by Security it seems he was effectively controlled without any injury to him at all.

    To continue my theme of being an utterly miserable git, I don't agree with the kid keeping the medal. The only people who should have world cup winners' medals are world cup winners. This act, though noble in its intention, completely devalues the medal - although I'll retract this point if I see evidence of the medal being auctioned for a shedload of money and the proceeds donated to charity.

    I'm not knocking Sonny Bill, well I suppose I am, but he did a nice thing here and on the surface it's a lovely gesture. But this will just encourage other idiots to run onto sports fields expecting similar treatment. I hope they only get the Security treatment. Pitch invasion convention is quite clear: naked adults only. I don't see why people are increasingly finding this so hard to comprehend.

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