Sonny Bill Williams

Williams took to social media to celebrate his graduation from Otago Polytechnic where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Management (Sport Management) with distinction.

The 33-year-old posted a picture of his new degree alongside another of him in his graduation gown surrounded by his family.

"Yes a Pacific Islander, boxer, league, sevens & rugby player can GRADUATE!" he said in the post.

"Don't ever let anyone pigeon hole you. Alhamdulillah."

Williams re-injured the troublesome knee, which he also had surgery on last year, late in the Blues victory over South African side the Stormers last month.

The 33-year-old then missed their fourth straight win, against the Waratahs last weekend, before the Blues on Thursday confirmed he would undergo minor arthroscopic surgery on Friday.

The Muslim All Blacks midfielder's trip south means he will miss the Auckland-based franchise's Super Rugby match against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Friday night.

Assistant coach Tom Coventry said the coaches thought it would be a good idea, even before Williams made the request.

"We were going to ask Sonny if he'd like to make the decision to go.

"We were all in agreeance, it was a pretty short conversation.

"We all knew how hard he took it, so it was a simple decision to make."

A proud Muslim, Williams posted to social media on Sunday night saying he would be in Christchurch "later in the week to show love and give donations to the Christchurch Masjids for the people effected in this tragedy".

The Blues confirmed the 51-test midfielder would not play against the Highlanders at Eden Park.
The match would count as one of the two Super Rugby fixtures he must miss as an All Blacks player ahead of this year's World Cup.

Williams' confirmation of his trip to Christchurch followed an emotional video he posted on Friday after the terror attacks.

Nurmagomedov is in Australia on a promotional tour, telling fans how he become one of the biggest names in sport during a live Q&A session at Olympic Park.

Williams posted photos of himself and Nurmagomedov on Twitter and Instagram, one of them where he was on stage with the reigning UFC lightweight champion.

"Alhamdulillah. Blessed to meet & share the stage with the brother @khabib_nurmagomedov May the most high continue to bless your journey," Williams wrote.

On their day off, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Ardie Savea and several other teammates shared their rugby knowledge with some of the inmates.

Williams said the experience was about giving back to the community.

"I think for us as people, it's our responsibility to help people less fortunate than ourselves," he said.

"I got tackled before and I hurt my knee, I might not be okay to play this weekend," Williams joked.

The All Blacks players went through a skills session and took photos with the inmates.

Earlier this month, Newstalk ZB presenter Heather du Plessis-Allan told her listeners it was not worth the expense of sending the PM to the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru.

"The Pacific Islands wants money from us," she said.

"The Pacific Islands don't matter. They are nothing but leeches on us."

Her comments were posted on social media, prompting lots of angry reactions and some abusive and offensive putdowns of the broadcaster herself.

All Blacks centre Williams announced on Tuesday that he will fight Laundy the weekend after the All Blacks' Test against Italy.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has already given the green light for Williams for his next bout, saying the fight would be a low-key affair.

“I think he’s just going to get off the plane and do it. It’s the sort of athlete he is,” he said.

"We've got guys boxing all the time, as part of their training. Again, my understanding of the fight is that it's more of an exhibition fight I think than a go down and knock yourself out fight.

The midfielder had scans on his shoulder yesterday and was given the all clear to play after three months on the sidelines.

His return would be timely with Ngani Laumape out injured and Ryan Crotty coming back from concussion.

However the All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster says Williams was unable to train Tuesday after becoming ill.

"Sonny had a scan yesterday and he's all clear ready to go except he was sick this morning so he didn't train this morning. But the good news is the scan is all clear so now we have just got to get him back on his feet and training.

Williams is targeting next year's Rugby Union World Cup with the All Blacks but his future beyond that is undecided.

The dual international turns 34 next August and is weighing up ending an illustrious career spanning Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, rugby league, rugby union and boxing.

Williams became a pariah in the 13-man game after his walk-out on Canterbury in 2008 over a contract dispute.