William Havili was born and raised in Motueka, just north of Tasman to a New Zealand mother and Tongan father. He attended Nelson College and has an older brother, David who has played for the All Blacks and Crusaders.

Off the field, Havili is a qualified builder.

Havili joined Tasman as an injury replacement, making his debut for the Mako in Round 6 of the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup. He came off the bench against Counties Manukau at Trafalgar Park, helping the Mako to a 21-19 win.

In 2021 he was named in the Tasman Mako squad as a development player for the 2021 Bunnings NPC.

Havili signed with Moana Pasifika for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season and made his debut against the Crusaders.

He became a regular starter for Moana Pasifika throughout 2022 and was called up to play for the ‘Ikale Tahi ahead of their World Cup qualifiers. He also played for Tonga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

He is Moana Pasifika’s most-capped player and with 49 appearances to his name, is set for his 50th match milestone in the 2026 season. Havili is a reliable and dynamic playmaker, becoming a pillar of the Moana Pasifika lineup with an ability to seamlessly switch between fly-half and fullback.

In 2024 he established himself as the first choice number 10, orchestrating some memorable moments on the field. One of those being his 79th minute game-winning try against the Reds in Round 8 in Whangārei.

In the 2025 season, he excelled as the primary fullback, showcasing his ability to make swift decisions under pressure and his strong defensive skills while creating opportunities for his team. His leadership also shined with his experience helping pave the way for the young backline. Consistency was the theme for Havili,

He was immense in Moana Pasifika’s second half comeback against the Chiefs at Navigation Homes Stadium in Round 6. His runaway intercept try late in the second half gave Moana Pasifika a chance to win, closing the margin to 8 points. He also recorded Moana’s only try in the first half.

Moana Pasifika debut: 2022 v Crusaders

Nick Name: Willi