All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has signed up for another year with New Zealand rugby and is switching his Super Rugby allegiance to the Chiefs.
Former NRL star Williams was coy about his playing future while helping the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup earlier this month, prompting speculation he may head abroad, and possibly even back to rugby league.
The fact he has signed a new deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union for only one year means the speculation will continue to linger in 2012.
Williams joined Super Rugby powerhouse the Crusaders for his first season in New Zealand this year but is leaving their earthquake-hit Christchurch base to link with perennial also-rans the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The NZRU’s Neil Sorensen welcomed his retention.
“He’s a special player who creates some real excitement and interest in the game with his style of rugby.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him create some more excitement in a Chiefs, as well as an All Blacks, jersey next year.”
The deal will allow the aspiring boxer to continue to take part in a limited number of professional bouts.
Williams joins departing All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith in moving to the Chiefs and the franchise’s new coach Dave Rennie is delighted to have the offload king in his squad.
“We’re rapt Sonny’s joining the Chiefs. He had a very good World Cup and his professionalism and work ethic will have a great influence on what is a very young team,” Rennie said.
Williams had tipped off his twitter followers that he would join the Waikato-based franchise, tweeting “I hear hamilton is nice”.
Williams is currently en route for a holiday in Panama.
Mike
Guest
Good point. It appears to this Wallaby supporter that SBW wants to continue playing rugby, and wants to stay an All Black. I think you may have him for the long haul.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Well done Hoy what a great piece of investigative journalism. This has set my mind at rest. I knew some of those fairy backs would be on the straight and narrow. I will not put SBW in with those two-combed types now that I have read the article. LOL.
Jerry
Guest
He played a pretty good portion of the Super rugby season without Carter, at least.
TembaVJ
Guest
It would be interesting to see how he goes minus Carter and the franks brothers making the game easier for him.
AussieKiwi
Guest
"It will be interesting to see if he makes his mark at the run-on in centre for the whole season to see if he can nail it down". Why not, I thought he was excellent for the Crusaders. Granted a great team makes any player look better, but he has the capacity to make any team look better too!
onor
Guest
Retalic and graham will be massive. Graham already shows plenty of mongrel!! NZ has so much in the way of playing stocks!! what about lam from wellington as an openside. I rate him ahead of Todd! Todd is in an already well established forward back. Lam was in a struggling forward pack and showed alot of good qualities aS an openside. Does anybody rate him?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Sonny is reluctant to sign any long term contract because of the saga at the Dogs. He is only young and has more opportunity then most others, why sign a long term deal when better deals are being put on the table every year. When he asked the Dogs for a release they said no. So why put your own future in the hands of somebody else, he wants to do what he wants to do, and the fact that people still want him means he can do just that. if he does not perform then the offers will start to run dry. With SBW it a 2 way street, he brings in the crowds and the hype, thats why everyone wants him.
Hoy
Roar Guru
What an odd series of thoughts. He has a bird apparently but you odn't hear much about any of their girlfriends do you? http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5648278/Sonny-Bill-Williams-love-interest-revealed
Football United
Guest
will it mean that chiefs get a crowd for once? every game of theirs i watch on the telly the far stand looks empty
Mario
Guest
Hurricanes are gonna suffer without all there star players aren't they?
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
It will be interesting to see if he makes his mark at the run-on in centre for the whole season to see if he can nail it down. But then what does the future hold for him at a higher level. Nonu is still going to be the pick at in centre for the ABs for a while to come. In 12 months from now it will be interesting to see which way he will jump. The best laid plans that have been touted by some (that he and Cooper will join together as a marketing force and go to league) may not eventuate as Cooper's value would have plummeted due to recent form and his injury status. IMO he will build his market value and go overseas for the big big bucks. With some astute marketing and management he probably could retire at just a tick over thirty a multi millionaire. One rather odd thing is that you don't hear anything on if he has a girl in tow or that he is interested in girls etc. Maybe his interlude in the toilet with the surfer girl has put him off the fairer sex, one hopes he hasn't jumped the other way. LOL. I suppose all backs get tainted with this brush from time to time, most of the time it is perpetuated by the forwards for a bit of a lark.
Quakezone...
Guest
4 of the 5 NZ franchises lokk strong for 2012...
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
His management demaded it, they wouldn't budge on any further time line. To be fair, his management is paid to do whatever best suites SBW. I don't necessarily agree with it, but can understand it. SBW is a marketing dream so the NZRU have probably taken the line one year is better than nothing at this stage.
Aaron
Guest
Cane has a lot more talent than Todd. Very excited about this kid.
ny ben
Guest
Why did rugby give this guy a 1 year deal. I dont see how this suites anyone but SBW.
jack
Guest
lmao!!!!!!!!!! haha!! true that!
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Cane, Luke Braid, Matt Todd the future of the All Black number 7 is looking very very bright. McCaw will not be the premier 7 at the next World cup. These young blokes are huge talents, and still babies. Ben May is off down south. There props are Toby Smith, Ben Afeaki, and Taumalolo. Smith and Afeaki are on the up big time. Locks will be Retalick, who has AB future written all over him. He is the younger brother of Callum Retalick who used to play for the Chiefs. The other lock will be Romana Graham. The Loose trio will be picked and rotated on form. Bourke, Messam, Waldrom, Cane, Fritz Lee Ive always thought the Chiefs lacked those real workhorse forwards. They have always had the guys that enjoy the open spaces like Bourke Messam Lee Elliot. Thats why i think Waldrom is a must start, he adds that hard edge and does the dirty work. If they want to bring change to the pack they all need to cut the error rate and get the hands dirty alot more then they do.
Mario
Guest
Cane future McCaw? Thought Matt Todd would be a shoe in with Luke Braid a close second.
2many1ndians
Roar Rookie
Leonard is still there.
Aaron
Guest
8 Bourke 6 Messam 7 Cane (watch this guy, the enxt Richie McCaw imo) 5 Retalic (Huge future and definitely an AB in the making) 4 Who knows?? 3 Ben May (great talent but has been hampered with injury- future All Black) 2 Elliot 1 Not too sure but am sure there is a decent prop somewhere