2 Nov 2015

Sonny Bill Williams given second winners medal

1:32 pm on 2 November 2015

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has been presented with another winners medal by World Rugby after giving his award to a young fan after yesterday's Rugby World Cup final.

Sonny Bill Williams with Charlie Lines after giving him his winning medal.

Sonny Bill Williams giving his medal to a young Charlie Lines. Photo: PHOTOSPORT / ©INPHO / Dan Sheridan

Williams gave his medal to the boy after he ran onto the field after the game and was tackled by a security guard.

Williams said it was better that the medal was around his neck rather than on his wall at home.

He was presented with a replacement at the World Rugby Awards, being held in London.

Williams greeted the unexpected award with good humour, saying Liam Messam, who put his beanie on the young fan's head, just wanted his hat back.

The eager fan had tried to race onto the field to talk to his heroes after yesterday's World Cup final victory over Australia but was pushed to the ground by stewards, before being helped to his feet by Williams and fellow players.

Sonny Bill Williams with the young fan indentified as Charlie Lines.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Williams' move is still being applauded on social media today, with little slowdown in the number of tweets lauding the gesture.

Williams himself has been a bit more relaxed today:

Williams came on at half-time for Conrad Smith, delivering a trademark offload to Nonu, and the midfielder tore through some soft defending and sprinted 30 metres to mark his 103rd and last New Zealand appearance with a killer try.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.