Cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams has revealed a noticeably slimmer frame as he returned home after a frightening health battle that left him in hospital for two weeks and required multiple surgeries.
The former Bulldogs and Sydney Roosters premiership winner shared three photos with his millions of followers on Sunday, including one showing him standing at home with his family after finally being discharged from hospital.
Williams appeared visibly thinner after the ordeal, with the 40-year-old also posting graphic images of the stitched wound on the back of his neck and another taken from his hospital bed while recovering.
‘After two more surgeries & two weeks in hospital, I’m finally home. Alhamdullilah … Grateful for all the love,’ Williams wrote.
The post prompted an outpouring of support from friends and fellow athletes.
Former boxing world champion Anthony Mundine replied: ‘Alhumdulilah for your recovery my bra.’
Sonny Bill Williams returned home after two weeks in hospital, revealing a noticeably slimmer appearance following multiple surgeries and serious complications
The former NRL and All Blacks star thanked supporters after finally leaving hospital following an infection near his spinal cord
Friends including Anthony Mundine flooded Williams’ social media post with prayers and messages celebrating his safe return home together
Former kickboxing stars Badr Hari and Gokhan Saki also offered prayers, while cousin Tim Williams wrote: ‘Love you cuz good to see you back home with the fams.’
The latest update comes just a week after Williams revealed he had been rushed into emergency surgery when a routine neck operation was followed by a dangerous infection.
‘Post-surgery, few days later, woke up in the morning, fever, spewing, pus coming out of my wound,’ Williams said in a video from his hospital bed.
‘My wound got infected from the surgery so I had to rush up to the hospital.
‘Went up to the emergency ward, been there for a couple of days now.
‘The worrying thing about this is it’s so close to my spinal cord, the infection.
‘Inshallah in the next couple of days, things will come good.’
His wife, Alana, later explained the seriousness of the situation.
The health scare began after neck surgery led to a dangerous infection and abscess developing close to his spinal cord
Surgeons successfully removed the infection before he slowly began recovering during his extended hospital stay
Williams previously revealed he woke with fever, vomiting and pus coming from his surgical wound before rushing to hospital
‘Would like to add that he had to undergo a second surgery within the week to clean out the infection and abscess sitting on his spinal cord,’ she wrote.
‘All went well and recovering slowly.’
Williams also reflected on how his time in hospital changed his perspective after witnessing other patients fighting their own battles.
‘Count your blessings. I was in the emergency ward, sitting next to a lady who had just finished her chemo and she was back in because they found more cancerous cells,’ he said.
‘There was a man in there, a grown man, he was literally crying because of the pain he was in, and they couldn’t give him the pain relief that he needed.’
‘Being here in this space, man, it has just made my problems – not just in here with my health, but outside in my household … it’s made me so grateful for all of the challenges, because they’re all blessings.’
Before the latest operation, Williams said he believed it was already the fourth procedure on his neck following years of punishment across rugby league and rugby union.
The dual-code legend suffered a bulging disc during his playing career and previously underwent surgery to remove bone from his spine to relieve pressure on nerves.
Williams said he would never change his sporting journey despite the lasting physical toll from decades competing at elite level
Williams also used the experience to deliver a sobering message about life after elite sport.
‘Please remember this, I ain’t got no one here paying my bills from back in the days, no organisations, no CEOs ringing me making sure I’m OK,’ he said.
‘In high-performance space, if you’re not performing, what will happen? See you later with a handshake.
‘[But] I would never change my path as a sportsman because it brought me so much joy.’
Williams is regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest sporting exports, winning NRL premierships with the Bulldogs and Roosters before claiming two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks.
He later forged a successful professional boxing career before retiring from rugby in 2021.