Radio Islam and Agencies | 14 Rajab 1438/12 April 2017

New Zealand Rugby and the Blues teams have agreed to Sonny Bill Williams’ request to have advertising from BNZ and Investec banks removed from his Super Rugby jersey. 

Williams, a Muslim, raised eyebrows among some in the rugby world last week when he taped over the BNZ bank’s logo on the collar of his Blues jersey.

“I want to be clear that this is nothing personal against the BNZ or Investec,” Williams said in a statement on Wednesday.

“My objection to wearing clothing that markets banks, alcohol and gambling companies is central to my religious beliefs and it is important to me to have been granted this exemption.

“As I learn more, and develop a deeper understanding of my faith I am no longer comfortable doing things I used to do. So while a logo on a jersey might seem like a small thing to some people, it is important to me that I do the right thing with regards to my faith and hope that people respect that.”

NZR and the Blues have accommodated the supesrtar’s wishes on the basis of Williams’ conscientious objection to the category of sponsorship, “which can only be lodged on the basis of genuine family, ethical or religious grounds, and consent to excuse the player from an activity is not to be unreasonably withheld”, a statement from NZR and the Blues said.

Previously, Williams has not been required to undertake promotional activities relating to categories of sponsors he has lodged objections to on religious grounds.

“Sonny holds clear religious beliefs in relation to this matter and we respect those,” NZR general manager rugby Neil Sorensen said.

“Conscientious objections need to be genuine, and we believe this is. We want to thank our Super Rugby sponsor Investec for their understanding of this.” 

Blues chief executive Michael Redman said “we are pleased that this matter has been resolved promptly and wish to thank our sponsor BNZ for their accommodation of this request from Sonny.”

New Zealand’s prime minister on Monday criticised All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams’ decision to block out a sponsor’s logo on his shirt apparently for religious reasons.

Prime Minister Bill English said he did not see why Williams should receive special treatment when other players were expected to wear the team jersey.

“It’s hard to understand how one guy gets to behave differently than the rest of them,” he told TV3.

“I don’t understand these professional contracts but if you’re in the team, you’re in the team and you wear the team jersey.”

Williams converted to Islam in 2008, stating that he had converted in France while playing for Toulon.

“I’ve become a true Muslim,” Williams told CNN in 2013. “It’s giving me happiness. It’s made me become content as a man, and helped me to grow. I’ve just got faith in it and it has definitely helped me become the man I am today.”