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SBW: Trophy giveaway is no big deal

Singapore - Sonny Bill Williams has played down his latest random act of kindness, saying giving away his Hong Kong Sevens runners-up trophy to an eight-year-old fan was no big deal.

Code-hopper Williams, who also handed his World Cup-winner's medal to a stunned fan in London last year, said most of his team-mates had done the same in Hong Kong.

"It's blown out of proportion. Most of the boys gave their cups away from the Hong Kong tournament, so I don't see it as a big deal," he told reporters ahead of the Singapore Sevens.

Eight-year-old Cooper Rodda posted a YouTube video thanking Williams for handing over his silver runners-up tankard, unasked, after posing for a selfie on Sunday.

"He's, like, one of the most nicest guys in the world," the young fan said of Williams.

Williams is bidding to make New Zealand's Olympic sevens team and after being sidelined with a knee injury, he started to hit form in their run to the Hong Kong final.

But he said gelling with team-mates is his primary concern as he keeps his focus fixed firmly on the Rio Games in August.

"For myself, it's just been about fitting in with the team. The team comes first, there's a lot of talk that goes on outside of this group here and I don't worry about it," he said.

"I just worry if whether I have my team-mates' respect and if my coaches think that I'm on the right track.

"I believe that if I just keep working hard, God willing, stay healthy and injury-free, I'll be able to get there in the end."

Williams added: "I'm loving it. I'm loving the challenge, really enjoying it and happy with how I've been playing and where I am at this stage."

He said New Zealand's main competitors in Rio would be Fiji, the sevens world series defending champions and current championship leaders who won the Hong Kong final 21-7.

"They play different to any other team in the circuit. It's their national sport so... we're coming up against it pretty much," Williams said.

"It's challenging but very exciting at the same time, coming up against some of the best players in the world sevens."

Tropical Singapore is returning to the world series as the eighth of 10 stops this year, with tournaments in Paris and London still to come.

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