Rumble replaces disgraced Williams

Dane Rumble, new member of the Mayor's 1st XV, with fans at Western Springs College after a concert yesterday. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Auckland singer Dane Rumble has replaced disgraced pop star J Williams as a Rugby World Cup ambassador.

The best male artist at last year's Music Awards was yesterday staying quiet about the downfall of Williams, focusing instead on the "chance to help his home city host this once-in-a-lifetime event".

Williams was dropped last month from Auckland Mayor Len Brown's 1st XV - a team of distinguished Aucklanders chosen to promote the city for the cup - after revelations that he abused his former partner, the mother of his young son.

Others on the team include Sir John Walker, Sir Wilson Whineray, Bernice Mene and Ruben Wiki.

This week, Williams said he had given up the drink, the parties and all his money and was holed up in a modest West Auckland flat, afraid to be seen publicly as a "wife basher".

The 24-year-old award-winning musician attends four sessions of alcohol counselling and anger therapy a week after a fraught relationship which the mother of his newborn son called "traumatic".

Rumble, a former member of hip hop act Fast Crew, said he was thrilled to be invited to be a Rugby World Cup ambassador after returning from a tour of the United States and
Europe.

"Auckland will be buzzing for the six weeks of the cup and I encourage everyone to be part of the action."

The pop star will perform at three suburban fanzones for the Cup in Albany, Mangere and Henderson, with Anika Moa, the Black Seeds, Katchafire, London-based New Zealand band I am Giant and Australian Idol 2009 winner Stan Walker.

Mayor Brown said that the programme of entertainment for the main fanzone at Party Central on Queens Wharf would be announced next month.