Wellington (AFP)

New Zealand rugby superstar and former All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams announced Thursday that he was hanging up his crampons to devote himself to his boxing career.

The two-time rugby union world champion, 35, has confirmed that he will no longer play with the Sydney Roosters in the Australian Rugby League Championship (NRL).

“A big thank you to the audience and fans for their support over the years. To my many teammates, thank you for the lessons and help along the way,” he tweeted.

"The course has not been perfect, but the lessons (learned) have helped make me the man I am today," added the center in third-line physique, with dual Samoan and neo nationality. -Zeeland.

Snatched at the gold prize in 2008 in rugby union by the president of RC Toulon Mourad Boudjellal on the advice of Tana Umaga, Williams notably won two World Cups at XV with the All Blacks, in 2011 and 2015, and Rugby Championship in 2017.

During the 2019 World Cup, he lost his starting place in favor of Anton Lienert-Brown.

However, he started the meeting which saw his team finish third in the competition against Wales, their last in the All Blacks jersey.

In 2013, he failed in the final against Australia in the final of the Rugby Union World Cup.

The New Zealand superstar also made a career in rugby sevens, but suffered a serious injury in New Zealand's first game at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Former All Blacks manager Steve Hansen last year claimed Williams was the best player he had ever worked with, saying "sportingly, he's a freak of nature."

- From rugby to boxing -

The All Blacks also paid tribute to this icon of New Zealand rugby, who has a hundred selections accumulated at VII, XIII and XV.

“Thank you for everything you have given New Zealand rugby and fans around the world, @SonnyBWilliams. Enjoy your retirement, brother,” the team tweeted.

Williams explained that he no longer wanted to do team sport in order to devote himself to his boxing career, he who held the title of heavyweight champion of New Zealand.

So far, the Auckland native has won his seven fights between 2009 and 2015 among the pros.

"I spoke to my manager and I told him + my brother, I want to get back in the ring +, I have a few years ahead of me, I am 35 years old", he told the Australian channel Channel Nine.

"I first talked to my wife, whose gaze froze, but as usual she supported me," said Williams, who converted to Islam in 2009.

© 2021 AFP