Footy fans would believe All Blacks legend Ali Williams has lived a blessed life, but now the New Zealand star has opened up about the horror accident that paralyzed his father and the cocaine scandal that almost crippled his own career.
Ali, born Alexander James Williams, had a distinguished All Blacks career from 2002 to 2012 with 77 caps, while playing in World Cup tournaments in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
Known for his skill and toughness, Lock was named one of five Players of the Year by NZ Rugby Almanack in 2005 and built a legacy as one of the standout figures in New Zealand rugby.
However, it almost collapsed when he was busted buying cocaine in 2017 in a scandal that almost cost him his career and legacy.
Today, the 43-year-old is married to New Zealand entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and the couple co-own the new Auckland A-League franchise, which will join the competition next season.
Former All Blacks star Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray are now co-owners of the latest A-League franchise
Williams built a 77-cap All Blacks career and played at three Rugby World Cups
The powerful lock almost threw it all away during a 2017 incident when he was found trying to buy cocaine outside a nightclub in Paris
Speaking about the Between two beers podcasthe reflected on the cocaine scandal that saw him fired from French professional rugby club Racing 92.
The All Blacks star was arrested in Paris after he was caught buying cocaine outside a nightclub. It also almost cost him his international career.
“It’s one of those things where life was good. You fly high, everything was easy. You haven’t challenged yourself as much as you probably should have,” Williams said.
“But deep down you were afraid that the road to becoming a professional rugby player is coming to an end, and I say these things in retrospect about an event that happened and I was there at the wrong time, in the wrong place.”
Fortunately for Williams, he survived the scandal and has been able to build a new empire as a property developer since his retirement.
Williams was hit with a criminal conviction as a result of his coke scandal and hasn’t forgotten his mistake and how much it almost cost him
Williams (pictured with wife Anna Mowbray) is successful in footy and has also been hugely successful after rugby as a property developer in New Zealand
Williams also reflected on the horror of watching his father become paralyzed after falling down the stairs at one of New Zealand’s most famous stadiums.
However, a criminal record is a lasting reminder of his mistake, and he admits it was the wake-up call he needed.
“It was just brutal, but it was one of those moments where you can’t really look anywhere but at yourself in the mirror and take responsibility because you did it and you put yourself into it and this is on you,” he said .
“So at that point it was really interesting because that’s when I realized, man, I just have no choice but to own this alone and completely.”
Williams subsequently admitted his punishment, saying he had not been sacked by the glamorous French club but had walked away voluntarily.
‘[I said] I’m walking away [to the club president]. I apologize,” Williams said.
“And he couldn’t understand it. He said, ‘You’re not going to fight and you want your money?’ And I said, ‘Man, don’t pay me another cent from now on.
‘I have to walk. And that’s what happened. He helped me and said, ‘No, you have to stay here for a few months and get your family in order.’
Most football fans and the general public forgot about the scandal in a short time, but for Williams, who returned to New Zealand immediately afterwards, it always haunted his thoughts.
“I think in a strange way it becomes top of mind for me on a daily and weekly basis that you are not better than the law,” he said.
Williams never spoke much about his father Rodney during his playing career, but opened up about their relationship after his father passed away
Williams also opened up about his father Rodney Williams, who passed away in 2023, and reflected on the shocking moment his father fell down the stairs at Mt Smart Stadium and was paralyzed. Ali was only 16 at the time.
‘It’s quite bizarre. “It’s the first time I’ve talked about it since he passed away,” he said.
‘We have become good friends. It changed from a father-son relationship to partners. And the best thing about your friends is that they tell you the honest truth and tell you things you don’t want to hear.
‘He said to me: you don’t do this, or you do this. And so throughout that rugby career he was that mirror that never lied. So he always told you those things. And it really evolved as a relationship.”