LIST | 4 famous rugby players who changed religion

Many stars have changed their religions to attain spiritual awakening during the early or later part of their lives.

Religion is one of the most sensitive and salient aspects of one's life, irrespective of whether he is a celebrity or not. The world sees people convert to other religions in search of bliss and serenity.

Here is a list of four famous rugby stars who converted to other religions. Read their stories:

Williams revealed that it was when he was living in Australia and playing league for the Bulldogs that he first learned about Islam.

"I grew up as a Christian, and to be honest, I always felt a little bit uncomfortable – not about the message, but the environment," he said.

"People at the time that I knew in Australia… they always had this aura around them, that they were happy, they were never sad… always inviting me round... So that's how I first learnt about Islam."

It was a few years later in France when he converted to the faith, after sensationally walking out on his multi-million dollar NRL contract in 2008 to play rugby for Toulon.

"When I first made my Shahada (profession of faith) my knowledge of the dīn (Muslim way of life) was pretty limited," he explained.

It was his friendship with a local Tunisian family that solidified his belief in "the beauty of Islam," and ultimately led to him learning more about the religion."It was a family of four or five (children) and they had a one bedroom house and they all slept in the lounge room," he explained.

"I spent the majority of my time there... plenty of time sleeping on the floor in the house.

"The contentment, the solace, the happiness that they had in that household… was beautiful… so that's how I really started getting into it (Islam)," he explained.

England hero Wilkinson kicked his old life into touch and became a Buddhist in 2007.

The 40-year-old, who became a national hero in the 2003 World Cup, said the religion had helped him overcome a fear of failure which was ruining his life.

His obsessive perfectionism had been making him miserable but Buddhism had liberated him from being motivated by ‘money, status, or ego’.

 The All Blacks star reverted to Islam in March 2019 and has taken the , confirmed fellow Muslim convert John Fontaini on social media.

The conversion came after Ofa’s visit accompanied by his Muslim best friend and teammate Sonny Bill Williams to Christchurch Hospital, where they spent time with the injured, less than two weeks after the terrorist Christchurch mosque massacre.

Tu’ungafasi described how the survivors inspired him and prayed for their speedy recovery.

“Verily, with every hardship comes ease. Had the most amazing experience visiting the Muslim Brothers in hospital on the weekend. Am inspired and have drawn so much strength from you all. May the Almighty bless you all with quick recovery. Love and Duas,” he wrote on wrote on Instagram and Twitter.

The rugby legend revealed that he once considered attempting suicide after being arrested for affray, assault and criminal damage during the troubled early phase of his career.

Robinson, who scored for England in the 2003 World Cup final victory against Australia and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and 2005, said the incident occurred during his early days at Wigan Warriors rugby league club, a period of his life that was marked by heavy drinking sessions.

The England legend describes how he considered suicide but through the life and testimony of friend and Wigan team-mate Va’aiga Tuigamala was drawn to Christianity.

“The very reason that I became a Christian is because I’m not perfect, is because I need help, and because I can’t do it on my own,” he explained, adding: “However strong or weak I’ve been I will always go back to the source, and that is my faith in Christ.”