Footy fans will believe All Blacks legend Ali Williams has lived a blessed life. But now the New Zealand star has opened up about the horrific accident that crippled his father and the cocaine scandal that almost crippled his career.
Alli, born Alexander James Williams, had an outstanding 77-game All Blacks career from 2002 to 2012, featuring in World Cup tournaments in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
Known for his skill and tenacity, Lock was named one of the Five Players of the Year by the NZ Rugby Almanack in 2005 and cemented his legacy as one of the most notable figures in New Zealand rugby.
But it almost came crashing down in 2017 when he was caught trying to buy cocaine in a scandal that nearly cost him his career and legacy.
Now 43, he is married to New Zealand entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and the couple are co-owners of the new Auckland A-League franchise, which is due to enter 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 had an All Blacks career that saw him play 77 games and play in three Rugby World Cups.
The strong lock nearly gave it all away when he was caught trying to buy cocaine outside a Paris nightclub in 2017.
Speaking on the Between Two Beers podcast, he reflected on the cocaine scandal that led to his dismissal from French professional rugby union club Racing 92.
The All Blacks star was arrested in Paris after being caught trying to buy cocaine outside a nightclub, which almost cost him his international career.
‘It’s one of the good things about life. You are flying high. The job was easy. You haven’t potentially challenged yourself as much as you should have,’ Williams said.
‘But you had a deep-seated fear that your path to becoming a professional rugby player was coming to an end. When I think back on what happened, I say this about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
Fortunately for Williams, he survived the scandal and was able to build a new empire as a real estate developer in retirement.
Williams received a criminal conviction for the Coke scandal and has never forgotten his mistake and how much it cost him.
After his success in football, Williams (pictured with wife Anna Mowbray) found great success after rugby as a property developer in New Zealand.
Williams also recalled the horror of watching his father fall down the stairs at one of New Zealand’s most famous stadiums, leaving him a quadriplegic.
But a criminal record is a constant reminder of his mistakes, and he admits it was the wake-up call he needed.
‘It was brutal, but it was really one of those moments where you can’t look anywhere else but yourself in the mirror and you can’t take responsibility for yourself. “He said.
‘So it was very interesting at the time. Because I realized I had no choice but to own it solely and completely.’
Williams has admitted he was punished for his chin, saying he was not sacked from the glittering French club but left by choice.
‘(I) will walk (to the club president). I apologize,’ Williams said.
‘And he couldn’t understand it. He said, ‘You want money without a fight?’ And I said, ‘Hey, don’t pay me a penny from now on.’
‘I have to walk. And it happened. He helped me up and said, “No, you have to stay here for a few months and make things right with your family.”
Most football fans and the general public quickly forgot about the scandal, but it was always on Williams’ mind when he returned to New Zealand shortly after.
‘I think, strangely enough, the fact that you are no better than the law is at the forefront of my mind every day, every week,’ he said.
Williams never spoke much about his father Rodney during his playing career, but he 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 recalled the shocking moment his father fell down the steps of Mount Smart Stadium and became a quadriplegic. Ali was only 16 years old at the time.
‘It’s so strange. “This is the first time I’ve talked about it since he passed away.”
‘We became good friends. Their relationship changed from that of father and son to that of friends. 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 either don’t do this or you do this. So throughout his rugby career he was a mirror that never lied. So he always, always said that. And it actually developed into a relationship.
