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Home / Sport

Sonny Bill Williams reunites with boy he gave World Cup medal

NZ Herald
22 May, 2016 07:47 PM2 mins to read

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All Black Sonny Bill Williams has given his Rugby World Cup winner medal to a young boy who was he said was "smoked" in a tackle from a security guard after running on the field following the side's 34-17 win over Australia.
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Sonny Bill Williams has been reunited with Charlie Line, the boy he gave his Rugby World Cup winners medal to after the 14-year-old ran onto the field following last year's final.

The All Blacks sevens star posted a photo with Line during the London Sevens at Twickenham overnight, the same ground the two met in December.

Following the All Blacks' victory over Australia last year, Line broke onto the field to celebrate with Williams before security dragged him away.

Williams later said he felt sorry for the boy.

"A young fella snuck onto the field somehow but when he was coming up to give me a hug, he got smoked by a security guard, full-on tackled him. He was only eight and the other fella was a big man so he was lucky he didn't break his ribs or something," Williams explained about the encounter.

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The All Black was later given a new medal at the World Rugby awards.

Williams posted a photo on his Twitter account with Line.

Always good to see my mate @LineCharlie #London7s pic.twitter.com/ulqrkPdLbc

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) May 22, 2016

Williams was awarded the 2015 Panathlon International Fair Play Award to recognise his kind gesture.

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This time around Williams did not have a winners medal to hand over with the All Blacks Sevens side knocked out of the main draw in the quarter-finals. They went onto win the plate final.

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Sonny Bill Williams recognised for gracious acts of sportsmanship

19 May 01:57 AM
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Ben Ryan's harsh truths for Jarryd Hayne after Sevens debut

23 May 08:47 PM
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Wynne Gray: Half the game halves my interest

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