Tim Nanai-Williams


Tim Nanai-Williams is a New Zealand-born Samoan rugby union player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. He has also represented New Zealand and Samoa in sevens rugby.

Early life and education

Nanai-Williams was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Tavaefaga Nanai and Aolele Williams. Both his parents are Samoan-born and brought their family to New Zealand in the 1980s. He was raised in a samoan household, and speaks fluent samoan.
He grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and has said the place was "pretty rough". He attended Manurewa High School and got involved in every sport available, but started playing in the First XV when he was 14 years old.

Domestic career

After school, Nanai Williams started playing for Counties Manukau and re-signed with for the 2010 season. In the same year, Nanai-Williams signed for the Chiefs and made his Super Rugby debut for the Hamilton-based franchise, against the Sharks. He stayed in the franchise until 2015, and was a key fixture in the Chiefs' Super Rugby triumphs of 2012 and 2013, proving himself an invaluable utility option as he covered wing, outside centre and full-back.
After the 2015 Super Rugby season, he signed for the japanese Top League side Ricoh Black Rams. In october 2016, it was announced that he would re-sign for the Chiefs in time for the 2017 Super Rugby Season and with Counties Manukau. On his decision, he said "Counties is home for me, so I am rapt to be back with my family in New Zealand and playing rugby. Playing for Counties has always been special for me and that never diminishes. I am looking forward to reuniting with my Counties family and playing some good footy for our fans."
In December 2017, after 85 Super Rugby appearances, he signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse Clermont Auvergne, then reigning Top 14 champions, until the end of 2021.

International career

Nanai-Williams grew up dreaming of playing for the All Blacks and represented New Zealand at secondary schools and sevens level between 2008 and 2009. Given the depth and quality of players in the country, he always had the chance of representing Samoa in the back of his mind. In april 2014, he declared "My goal is still to make the All Blacks, and the end of year tour is definitely the target. If I don't make that, then I will probably take a closer look at playing for Samoa. I'd discuss it with my family. It just depends on the feedback and my chances of playing for New Zealand in the future".
After being overlooked for the All Blacks for a number of years, he decided to change his international allegiance to Samoa. In doing so, he became the first player to exploit a loophole whereby playing in four tournaments on the global sevens circuit made himself eligible for the Manu Samoa fifteen-a-side team. The decision came after much encouragement from his parents: "They were actually the ones who were approaching me about it the most," he said. "They were hearing about it on Samoan radio. I told them I hadn't made a decision, but once I decided I told mum and dad and my close family first and mum was pretty happy."
Nanai-Williams admits it wasn't an easy decision, stating that "It took me ages, but I sat down and talked to my family and talked to my partner Allie and now I'm finally comfortable to go ahead with the decision to make the move. I'm Kiwi born, but I am also a proud Samoan. That blue jersey is the same to me as an All Blacks one to be honest."
On his change of heart, he declared: “When you are young playing in New Zealand it is always the black jersey and also the jersey. Both my parents are from Samoa and I speak fluent Samoan. I never thought of going overseas. There are guys who have come across to Europe as a personal thing. It is a good choice. It is a choice for their own individual. For me it is more like my loyalty to my roots. Some guys do get offers from clubs overseas and end up playing for England. I have no problem with guys going overseas to financially set themselves up and play for other countries.”
Nanai-Williams has been adamant in saying that he doesn't regret giving up on his dream to play for the All Blacks, in order to represent his family's heritage. In 2015, he declared: "I'm loving every minute of it. The decision, to come here and play for Samoa, I've loved every moment of it ever since I made the decision. I've said it before, that when I made the decision, it was pretty much that if my family was happy for me to go with the decision then I was happy with it. So I just followed my heart and it's quite funny being the only person doing it. I've had no guidance. I'm just enjoying every time."
Nanai-Williams also admitted that the chance of playing at a Rugby World Cup or at the Olympics was a big reason for his change of allegiance, and that his best shot was in a Samoan jersey: " Realistically I had to look at the lineup for the All Blacks. There’s a lot of talent in New Zealand.”
Nanai-Williams made his test debut for Samoa in the historic game against the All Blacks in Apia, their first ever visit to play a Test match in Samoa. He represented Samoa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup held in England and at the 2019 Rugby World Cup played in Japan. As of july 2020, he has 16 international caps.

Style of play

Nanai-Williams is renowned for his complete skillset in attack, combining speed, footwork, acceleration, vision and creativity to find spaces and exploit gaps in defences. He can also cover several positions in the backline, namely, fullback, wing and centre.

Personal life

Nanai-Williams is the cousin of dual code rugby international Sonny Bill Williams and Black Ferns star Niall Williams and the younger brother of current Cardiff Blues and ex Blues player Nick Williams.
Growing up in Manurewa, Nanai-Williams was mates with future Ireland international Bundee Aki, and Chiefs teammate Lelia Masaga.