Sonny Bill Williams picked up the first ever red card against the British and Irish Lions back in 2017 when he whipped out Anthony Watson – before the pair got on the drink together
Anthony Watson found himself drinking cava with Sonny Bill Williams just weeks after the All Blacks legend floored him with a shot to the head during the British and Irish Lions success in New Zealand.
The now retired winger had become a big hit with England, but was shocked when he received a Lions call-up, only to make himself a Test starter weeks later. He played a major part in the Second Test victory on a rain-soaked evening in Wellington.
The night is perhaps best remembered for a rare All Blacks red card, handed out to Williams. The rugby league convert had long been a star name in the centres but went into a tackle leading with his shoulder, hammering Watson in the head to leave him on the ground. So much so that he didn’t even remember the red card being produced.
Weeks later, during a trip to Fiji, he waltzed into a hotel only to see Williams sitting there. He was preparing himself for an immensely awkward situation, but instead ended up sinking numerous glasses of cava with the All Black.
He told Genting Casino: “I’ll never forget the First Test. I couldn’t believe how fast they were playing the game. It was like we had nothing, no answer to how they were playing obviously. Then the week after, now, obviously as we’ll probably agree, it started raining and I was like, as a winger, this is not ideal.
“But for the Lions chances, it was probably a really good opportunity for us and the game started off pretty well. I just remember picking the ball up and I had (Waisake) Naholo breathing down my neck, which isn’t great to start.
“Then I looked up and Sonny Bill (Williams) was there and I was like, ‘Oh God, do the sign of the cross quickly’ and next thing, I was just on the floor, I was taken off for a HIA. I didn’t even see him get a red card to be honest with you, know, followed the protocol, elbow apple, carpet, saddle, bubble, whatever it is, all the words you’ve got to say.
“It was just ridiculous, similar to what you were saying about having to bump into those guys, I actually went on holiday with Kyle Sinckler afterwards to Fiji. And we walk into this hotel, and who’s in the lobby drinking cava? Sonny Bill Williams.
“I was like ‘brilliant’ this is going to go down. But like the other lads, he was an absolute legend. We sat there and drank cava with him for a couple of hours.”
Williams created unwanted history in the New Zealand capital by becoming the first player ever to get sent off in a Lions Test. He would get hit with a four-week ban and missed the Third and final Test at Eden Park. The game ended in a 15-15 draw which meant the Series was tied, leading to a somewhat subdued reaction in Auckland.