Nanai-Williams was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Tavaefaga Nanai and Aolele Williams. Both his parents are Samoan-born and brought their family to New Zealand in the 1980s.[1] He was raised in a Samoan household, and speaks Samoan fluently.[2]
He grew up in Manurewa, a suburb in South Auckland, and has said the place was "pretty rough".[3][4] He attended Manurewa High School and got involved in every sport available, but started playing in the First XV when he was 14 years old.[3]
Domestic career
After school, Nanai Williams started playing for Counties Manukau and re-signed with for the 2010 season.[5] In the same year, Nanai-Williams signed for the Chiefs and made his Super Rugby debut for the Hamilton-based franchise, against the Sharks.[6] He stayed in the franchise until 2015, and was a key fixture in the Chiefs' Super Rugby triumphs of 2012 and 2013, proving himself an invaluable utility option as he covered wing, outside centre and full-back.[7]
After the 2015 Super Rugby season, he signed for the japanese Top League side Ricoh Black Rams.[8] In October 2016, it was announced that he would re-sign for the Chiefs in time for the 2017 Super Rugby Season[9] and with Counties Manukau.[10]
In December 2017, after 85 Super Rugby appearances,[11] he signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse Clermont Auvergne, then reigning Top 14 champions, until the end of 2021.[6]
On 11 March 2021, Williams signs for Top 14 rivals Toulouse ahead of the 2021-22 season.[12]
International career
Nanai-Williams grew up dreaming of playing for the All Blacks and represented New Zealand at secondary schools and sevens level between 2008 and 2009.[1] Given the depth and quality of players in the country, he always had the chance of representing Samoa in the back of his mind. [13]
After being overlooked for the All Blacks for a number of years, he decided to change his international allegiance to Samoa. In doing so, he became the first player to exploit a loophole whereby playing in four tournaments on the global sevens circuit made himself eligible for the Manu Samoa fifteen-a-side team.[2][14]
Nanai-Williams admitted that the chance of playing at a Rugby World Cup or at the Olympics was a big reason for his change of allegiance, and that his best shot was in a Samoan jersey.[15]
Nanai-Williams made his test debut for Samoa in the historic game against the All Blacks in Apia, their first ever visit to play a Test match in Samoa.[16] He represented Samoa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup held in England[17] and at the 2019 Rugby World Cup played in Japan.[18] As of July 2020, he has 16 international caps.[19]
Style of play
Nanai-Williams is renowned for his complete skillset in attack, combining speed, footwork, acceleration, vision and creativity to find spaces and exploit gaps in defences.[20][21][22] He can also cover several positions in the backline, namely, fullback, wing and centre.[6]
