Bryan Williams at his peak with the All Blacks Photo: Courtesy of Sir Bryan Williams
By Mary Afemata of Pacific Media Network
When Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams watched Family Faith Footy - A Pasifika Rugby Story, it brought him to tears.
Williams - who carries the name Tuifa'asisina as his Samoan chief title - saw the Pacific rugby documentary at a private viewing, ahead of the screening on TVNZ1.
Director Fa'alava'au Jeremiah Tauamiti says it was important to him that Williams - a former All Black winger - saw it first and that he liked it.
Williams became an All Black in 1970 and toured South Africa that year, and in 1976, during the height of apartheid.
He was moved to tears by the documentary, which can now be viewed on TVNZ+.
"I'm sure that when people see it, particularly our people, they'll become pretty emotional about it as well.
"Because it just talks about the ups and downs really, of all the obstacles that have been faced and had to be overcome to enable our boys and girls to achieve at the very highest level of the game of rugby."
Tauamiti said they got the big tick from Williams, who also gave them a big hug and fatherly kiss.
"He was very emotional. So that was really special."
Former All Blacks Sir Bryan Williams and Ofisa Tonu'u catch up after the New Zealand Barbarians Legends v Pacific Legends game in 2019. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Williams' emotional response is mirrored by the vulnerability of the players in the documentary.
Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Piutau express their rollercoaster of emotions and detail the sacrifices they've made throughout their careers. Piutau's decision to take a lucrative overseas contract, as it was the best move for his family, did not go down well with the All Black hierarchy and he was not selected for the Rugby World Cup.
Tauamiti said it was about getting on the same level as the players, giving them their platform to speak freely.
"They shared some really heartfelt moments and spoke about their childhood and losses, and spoke about situations where they didn't handle things the best all the time."
The documentary shows a level of vulnerability that Tauamiti says is rare and goes deeper than rugby sound bites.
"They were the most emotional when they were talking about their parents … literally every single one of them teared up talking about their mum, their love for their mum especially, and their dad and grandparents."
Williams also features in the documentary and said his parents were supportive of his rugby career.
He also revealed that during his entire rugby playing career, his mother has only watched three of his games.
"She didn't like seeing us get hurt."
The influence of Beegee
In the documentary, La'auli Sir Michael Jones said he grew up in a generation of Kiwi-Samoans where Williams was such a powerful force in his life.
"We always felt that if Beegee (Williams) could do it, there's no reason why, you know, snotty nose little Michael Jones from that household of 12 or 13 Pacific Islanders living out in Henderson, there was no reason I couldn't be like Beegee and do what he did either."
Sir Michael Jones after being knighted in 2017 Photo: Photosport
Williams has inspired rugby players like Jones from different generations and said his inspiration comes from the All Blacks of the 1960s when he was growing up.
Although the documentary touches on different issues including the pressure of contractual obligations and social media, Williams said there is an obvious difference between now and his playing days.
"The biggest single difference of course was the fact that they now play for money and back when I was playing the game was amateur.
"We didn't have to worry about where the next dollar was coming from ... it wasn't coming.
"We played for the fun of it, for the enjoyment and for whatever jersey you were playing for."
Williams welcomes recent changes to the rugby rules regarding birthright that have allowed Pasifika rugby players to play for their heritage country.
However, he believes the three-year stand-down period is too long - Williams would make it two years.
He said that players can still aspire to play for the All Blacks if they're in the New Zealand environment but playing for "Samoa, Tonga and Fiji is a very good option nowadays".
Williams - known as Beegee due to his initials BG from Bryan George Williams - said Family Faith Footy is compulsory viewing for everyone.
"I think because you know it's emotions, it tells a great story of obstacles and struggles and then gradually overcoming those obstacles to put ourselves, I guess, on the rugby map."
This article was first published by the Pacific Media Network and is republished thanks to a community partnership.
Wasps centre Malakai Fekitoa last played for the All Blacks in 2017. Photo: AFP
