[6] He stayed in the franchise until 2015, and was a key fixture in the Chiefs' Super Rugby triumphs of 2012 and 2013, proving himself an invaluable utility option as he covered wing, outside centre and full-back.
[10] In December 2017, after 85 Super Rugby appearances,[11] he signed a three-year contract with French powerhouse Clermont Auvergne, then reigning Top 14 champions, until the end of 2021.
In doing so, he became the first player to exploit a loophole whereby playing in four tournaments on the global sevens circuit made himself eligible for the Manu Samoa fifteen-a-side team.
[2][14] Nanai-Williams admitted that the chance of playing at a Rugby World Cup or at the Olympics was a big reason for his change of allegiance, and that his best shot was in a Samoan jersey.
[19] Nanai-Williams is renowned for his complete skillset in attack, combining speed, footwork, acceleration, vision and creativity to find spaces and exploit gaps in defences.