Sonny Bill Williams a hit at National Sevens in Rotorua (+video)

The ball boys and girls at the Bayleys National Sevens tournament in Rotorua got a special treat today, taking part in a skills session with superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Williams, who has linked up with the All Blacks Sevens team this year, ahead of the Rio Olympics in August, took part in a skills session with local children today at the Rotorua International Stadium.

Williams will spend the weekend in the city as part of an ACC-organised promotion, teaching sevens players to prepare well ahead of matches to avoid injuries.
He said as well as working with ACC and taking some sessions with local children, there was another motive for coming to Rotorua.

"I'm obviously here to work with ACC but also it is a bit of a personal time as well, because I got to see my sister play."

His sister, Niall Williams, was in action for Auckland and Williams said she went pretty well.
"She is going alright, she is always hard on herself but as a family we are very proud of her because she has had two kids and is still mixing it with these young girls."

Williams said the fitness side of things was the toughest challenge he had faced since switching to sevens, having already been introduced to one of Sir Gordon Tietjens grueling sevens camps. "The fitness [is the biggest challenge]. That camp was tough," he said.