Moments after winning World Cup, New Zealand rugby player gave his medal to young fan who was tackled by security
New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, beating rival Australia in the final. But the coolest moment of the day came after the match.
After receiving his winning medal, Sonny Bill Williams was walking off the field when a young fan ran out from the stands and was tackled by a security guard right in front of Williams.
In the heat of the moment, the guard probably didn't realize he was going after a young boy, but the hit was pretty jarring.
Williams later described what he saw, noting that the 14-year-old Charlie Lines got "smoked."
"I was walking around doing a lap of honour with the boys," Williams said (via Stuff). "A young fella came running out and he got smoked by the security guard, like full on tackled him. I felt sorry for the little fella."
Williams immediately bent over to help the young lad.
Williams and a couple of other members of the All Blacks waved the security guard off and welcomed the young boy among them.
At that point, Williams put the boy under his arm and walked him back to the stands.
A hug from a world champion rugby player probably was more than this Lines ever dreamed of and enough to create a memory to last a lifetime. But Williams wasn't done.
Williams and the boy fought through a swarm of photographers to find the Lines' seat. At that point, Williams took off his medal and put it around the neck of the boy.
"I kind of felt sorry for him," said Williams. "It will be a night that he remembers hopefully."
If the pictures are any indication, I think Williams succeeded.
Here is video of the moment from ARMA Rugby.