All Blacks and Blues player Sonny Bill Williams has paused his off-season training to visit Mecca, as a part of an Islamic pilgrimage.
The 32-year-old rugby union star converted to Islam in 2009 and visiting Mecca is a trip that Muslims, who are able, must perform at least once in their lifetime.
Before making the trip to Saudi Arabia Williams had been training with a strength and conditioning coach alongside Quade Cooper, Michael Boxall and Nikko Boxall.
Williams has posted photos on his social media of his trip including himself standing in front of the Kaaba, which is a sacred black stone.
"What an amazing feeling visiting the prophets(as) holy masjid (mosque) in Madinah," Williams later wrote on Instagram.
"Thanks to the Shieks for their insightful knowledge today," he said in another post.
Slow news day, mate. But I thought it was interesting. Surely the first All Black to visit the home of Muhammad and site of the First Revelation. In fact, if anyone knows of any other rugby stars to have been there, I'm be interested to hear about it. I imagine there's been a few Frenchies of Maghreb ancestry.
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
I thought this would be about bingo. That would have been more entertaining. I bet the Irish squad all head out to the real mecca for a bit of bonding.
Apartheid era massacres red flag topic, plight of Polynesian rugby red flag topic, a prominent All Blacks' visit to Mecca red flag topic. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
[/quote]
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
rowan wrote:Apartheid era massacres red flag topic, plight of Polynesian rugby red flag topic, a prominent All Blacks' visit to Mecca red flag topic. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
Blue dungarees should be worn with blue shirts or nothing at all. Silly hats are also in vogue, and beards must be more white than greying. Other than that, a gormless expression also adds to the effect...
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
Rowan posts a lot of boring shit and if you don’t positively engage you’re automatically a white oppressor/imperialist/singlehandedly liable for US foreign policy.
Says Mellsblue while posting a lot of shit because, like others who have come onto this thread only to stir trouble, he has obvious issues with the subject matter.
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
rowan wrote:Says Mellsblue while posting a lot of shit because, like others who have come onto this thread only to stir trouble, he has obvious issues with the subject matter.
Rowan, no-one is interested in the subject matter as it is inane at best, that is the point..
Here's a few thread titles for you to get along with:
Man has hair
Person acts like person
Rowan expounds nonsense shocker
rowan wrote:Apartheid era massacres red flag topic, plight of Polynesian rugby red flag topic, a prominent All Blacks' visit to Mecca red flag topic. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
What is the pattern?[/quote]
The proof is in the pudding, old boy!
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
rowan wrote:Apartheid era massacres red flag topic, plight of Polynesian rugby red flag topic, a prominent All Blacks' visit to Mecca red flag topic. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
& it was so important to you that you have to come onto this thread - again? I don't think so. This thread bothers you guys as much as the one about Samoa rugby, and the one about a notorious massacre during the Apartheid era. That's there and plain to see.
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
Yes, let's stick to the topic. Not religious personally but I have much respect for SBW's decision to convert to Islam in a part of the world where it barely exists. That means he has had the initiative to actually step outside the usual boundaries and educate himself about another ideology. I have lived among Muslims for more than a dozen years now and they are generally well-meaning people, just as Christians tend to be. Regrettably they get a bad rap, but they are no more responsible for the extremists than are Christians for the actions of US presidents. As you know, I'm not much of a fan of the dynamic SBW brings to rugby union with his border-line high tackling technique and propensity to collect yellow cards, but I totally respect him as a person.
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
If you really didn't give a shit, you wouldn't have felt the need to respond.
