Footy star Sonny Bill Williams admits he once tried to force his wife to wear a hijab and the ‘feisty’ response he got in return

Former NRL and New Zealand rugby player Sonny Bill Williams has admitted he tried to pressure his wife to wear a hijab during the early days of their relationship.

The retired football player and boxer has recently stirred up controversy recently with his social media posts on the war in Gaza.

Now the devout Muslim has been challenged by an attendee at an Islamic education event in Malaysia over his wife Alan’s decision to wear a traditional head scarf.

Williams converted to Islam in 2009 and said at the time it helped him when he was losing his way in the chaotic world of professional sport. His brother and mother also converted at the time.

He married his wife Alana Raffie in August, 2013 after a four-week whirlwind romance despite admitting they were not in love at the time, instead adhering to Islamic tradition.

‘Straight away we said we’re going to do it ­ Islamically correct, so even in that first four weeks I wasn’t with her by myself, we always had a chaperone,’ he previously admitted.

Alana has not always worn the hijab with Sonny Bill admitting he tried to pressure her into wearing it in the early years of their relationship

The couple have now celebrated 10 years together and have four children together.

Williams was named the guest speaker at the first of a series of Faith Events’ Islamic educational events for 2024 in Malaysia and was speaking with Shaykh Wael Ibrahim when he was asked about his wife’s head scarf.

The former NRL premiership winner and New Zealand All Black World Cup winner admitted that he tried to pressure Alana into wearing the hijab early in their relationship as he began his journey into Islamic faith.

‘When I started getting religious, started learning more, because I was on this journey, I expected those close to me, I started expecting them to be on the same journey,’ he said. 

‘Where everyone’s on their own journey.

‘So I started putting pressure on my wife at a time, you need to put the head scarf on.’

At the time, Alana was having none of it. 

‘My wife being the feisty Cape Malay [Muslim community in South Africa] that she is, she told me look, this is my journey, you worry about yourself and stop pointing the finger,’ Williams said.

‘So Subhanallah [Glory be to Allāh] I just went on my own journey and I understand I am the shepherd of my family.

‘I had to lead by my actions and that’s what I’ve always done as a rugby player.

‘So I started leading by my actions.’

Williams converted to Islam in 2009 and said at the time it was a way to help cope with the pressures of being an international star athlete

Williams spoke about the moment his wife made her own choice to wear the head scarf and the emotional impact it had on them both

Williams then spoke about the moment his wife decided to wear the head scarf and the emotional impact it had on them both. 

‘I forgot about it and two years later, I come back from Fajr from the Masjid [Fajr prayer at the mosque], I’m sitting downstairs and I am like where’s my wife? She is usually down here.’ he said.

‘So I go up to the room and I found her, she’s praying, crying.

‘I’m waiting for her thinking what did I do? And then she turns to me and she says today is the day. It’s time [to wear the head scarf].

‘The point of my story is for us as men, we’re the leaders of the house but there’s a responsibility on you to lead through your actions and be authentic in them.’

Followers praised Williams for his actions and patience with his wife, calling him a great family man and leader.

‘Beautiful human and shows the strength of leading by example,’ one follower posted.

‘’m not Muslim but I have HUGE admiration for Sonny Bill and his family. Didn’t like him as a footy player but I can see what a great guy he is,’ added another.

‘I have followed SBW since early league days before the AB and the growth is amazing to see,’ said another follower.