A Hurricanes injury replacement player at the end of the 1996 season, loose forward Daryl Williams played the final two matches against the Chiefs and the Waratahs after earlier returning from a playing career in France.

Former Western Samoa lock Williams was a Manawatu player out of Feilding, playing seven matches for Manawatu in 1996. He was also selected in the New Zealand Maori side, but did not play as he was subsequently found to be ineligible as he did not have any Maori ancestry.