Footy legend opens up about his dad being left a quadriplegic in horror stadium accident - and the cocaine scandal that threatened to derail his career
Had a glamourous, globe-trotting career as All Blacks starSuffered a shocking family tragedy when he was just 16
Footy fans would believe All Blacks legend Ali Williams has lived a blessed life, but now the New Zealand star has opened up on the horror accident that crippled his father and the cocaine scandal that nearly crippled his own career.
Born Alexander James Williams, Ali had a distinguished 77-cap All Blacks career from 2002 to 2012 as he starred in World Cup tournaments in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
Known for his skill and toughness, the lock was named one of the five Players of the Year by NZ Rugby Almanack in 2005 and he cemented a legacy as one of the most notable figures in New Zealand rugby.
However, it nearly came crashing down when he was busted trying to buy cocaine in 2017 in a scandal that nearly stripped him of his career and legacy.
Today, the 43-year-old is married to New Zealand entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and the couple are co-owners of the new Auckland A-League franchise, which is set to join the competition next season.
Former All Blacks star Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray are now co-owners of the newest A-League franchise
Williams forged a 77-cap All Blacks career and played at three Rugby World Cups
The powerful lock almost threw it all away during an incident in 2017 when he was found to be trying to purchase cocaine outside a Paris nightclub
Speaking on the Between Two Beers podcast, he reflected on the cocaine scandal that saw him sacked from French professional rugby union club Racing 92.
The All Blacks star was arrested in Paris after being caught allegedly trying to buy cocaine outside a nightclub and it nearly cost him his international career as well.
'It's one of those things where life was good. You're flying high, things were easy. You weren't potentially challenging yourself as much as you probably should,' Williams said.
'But deep down you had a fear that the road of being a professional rugby player is finishing, and I say these things in hindsight over an event that happened and I was there in the wrong time, the wrong place.'
Fortunately for Williams, he survived the scandal and has been able to build a new empire as a property developer since retiring.
Williams was hit with a criminal conviction as a result of his coke scandal and has not forgotten about his mistake and how much it nearly cost him
Successful in footy, Williams (pictured with wife Anna Mowbray) has also been wildly successful post-rugby as a property developer in New Zealand
Williams also reflected on the horror of watching his father be left a quadriplegic when he fell down stairs at one of New Zealand's most famous stadiums
A criminal record is a lasting reminder of his mistake, though, and he admits it was the wake-up call he needed.
'It was just brutal, but it was one of those moments that it's like, you actually can't look anywhere else apart from at yourself in the mirror and take responsibility because you did it and you put yourself in there and this is on you,' he said.
'So at the time, it was very interesting because that's when I realised, man, I just, I have no option but to own this solely, completely.'
Williams then admitted he took his punishment on the chin, saying that wasn't sacked by the glamourous French club but walked away by choice.
'[I said] I'll walk away [to the club president]. I apologise,' 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 a cent from here on.
'I got to walk. And that's what happened. He helped me out and said, "No, you need to stay here for a few months and get your family right".'
Most footy fans and the general public forgot about the scandal in short time, but for Williams, who moved back to New Zealand immediately afterward, it was always haunting his thoughts.
'I think it becomes, in a weird way, top of mind for me on a daily basis, weekly basis that you're not better than the law,' he said.
Williams never talked much about his father Rodney during his playing career, but opened up about their relationship after his dad passed away
Williams also opened on his father Rodney Williams, who passed away in 2023, reflecting on the shocking moment his dad fell down some stairs at Mt Smart Stadium and became a quadriplegic. Ali was only 16 at the time.
'It's quite bizarre. It's the first time I've talked about it since he passed,' he said.
'We became great mates. It moved from being a father-son relationship to mates. And the best part about your mates is they tell you the honest truth and they tell you things that you don't want to hear.
'He would say to me, you're not doing this or you're doing this. And so through that rugby career, he was that mirror that never lied. So he always, always told you those things. And it really evolved as a relationship.'