Code-hopping rugby star Sonny Bill Williams looks set to be included in the All Blacks’ end of year tour squad after being granted a special dispensation.
The 29-year-old, who will rejoin the 15-a-side game once his two-year rugby league deal with the Sydney Roosters is over, may not play a domestic rugby game before the tour squad is picked.
But the New Zealand Rugby board have granted him an exemption to be selected without having played in the national provincial championship.
NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew said the All Blacks’ coaching staff will be permitted to select the World Cup-winner if they want him in the squad.
Williams has signed to play for Counties Manukau in the domestic competition, but the Roosters are assured of making the NRL finals, putting his availability in doubt.
It is possible his commitments in the 13-a-side code will prevent him from playing for the Tana Umaga-coached side, whose regular season winds up four days after the NRL grand final on October 5.
The All Blacks’ end of season tour begins against the United States in Chicago on November 1 followed by Tests against England, Scotland and Wales over successive weekends.
Ken Stewart
Guest
He won't be in the squad in next years World Cup and he won't be good enough for the sevens either.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
abc, WOW, obviously well thought out prediction ... who will be the team who will beat them in the 1/4's, to make such a prediction, I assume you know who their opponents will be?
ric
Guest
more like the wallabies don't make it out of their pool
wardad
Guest
So the NZRU makes a decision that is no one elses business but theirs to make and theres something wrong with that ? So long as he meets the IRB eligibility criteria its between SBW and the ABS .
Dean
Guest
Of course you would do...really, no surprises here.
abc
Guest
but still...i predicting the All Blacks to lose in the 1/4s of next years world cup.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Smart move. Get him back into the environment and give him as much time as possible to get back to where he was before he left. There is no doubt he will be a weapon come world cup.
Wally Palmer
Roar Pro
Why don't the Wallabies get a noted State of Origin star like SBW!
atlas
Guest
He signed a 2 yr union deal a year ago. He is contracted to NZRU from October 2014. Why not use him?
atlas
Guest
It is the same dispensation allowed for Luke McAllister a few years back. Don't see what the fuss is - how many of the other EOYT All Blacks will play even 10 minutes for their province in this year's ITM Cup? They are assigned to a province but as of this year, 2014, NZRU pays their full ITM salary on basis they are unlikely to be of any value to the province. A nothing story . . .
Old Bugger
Guest
Swampy Not really mate - it means 2 marketable blokes have finally seen the light to expand upon their personal endeavours by crossing codes. Now go pick up your toys and get back in your cot.
Old Bugger
Guest
Simon Just a bit of perspective here - the dispensation is for the EOYT. He has signed a 2yr contract to return to rugby and there was always hope he could fulfill that contract without impacting upon his league commitments. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case since his league side are showing good form heading into the league finals series with an even bet chance of going to the final. The dispensation is he doesn't have to play ITM rugby before the tour starts - it means 1 game of ITM rugby after the league final (if his side goes all the way) does not need to be played and he can join the ABs and depart the following week on the EOYT. This is not a dispensation for 1 or 2 seasons of rugby.....uh-oh, he had to sign a new deal and return to NZ and play SR next year if he harboured any thoughts of playing 2015 RWC and 7s in 2016.
swamprat
Roar Pro
The obvious Sam Burgess connection here screams that Rugby Union needs stars from RL to stay marketable. Otherwise why would they , the Unions Involved , even consider gambling on them. Perhaps R.U has decided they are now in the entertainment Industry now.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
It was suggested that Beale had been selected to keep him out of league but at least he was a current rugby player. Is Money Bill's selection a move to stop him staying in league?
Ra
Guest
Yeah I feel for you guys Simon, we cop it every time when the international league calendar comes around.
all7days
Roar Guru
Good to see. Though the competition for that spot is heated he has shown he can play in the second five position at the top level. He'll be given a few games to make his case and I trust the selectors to make the right decision.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Policy makers at the ARU take note!! The rules of who, where and how a player can be selected for the All Blacks is clearly being blurred and bent, in fact broken. SBW is clearly not playing in the NZ local rugby competition, furthermore he is not even playing rugby union. SBW is a huge talent and of course the All Blacks should allow "special dispensations" to allow him to play, to boost the strength of their squad and to protect their valuable brand. What "special dispensations" should the ARU allow to special players who could help improve the strength of the Wallaby squad in the time of crisis. . . like right now? The Wallaby brand was hugely damaged on the weekend with the record loss to the All Blacks. I feel Australia is kidding itself if it too does not consider and follow NZ's policy of the religious sounding "special dispensations". How about this "special dispensation" by the ARU? If the selectors think a player who meets the IRB eligibility rules to play for the national squad and is better than the incumbent player in the Wallaby squad then he can be selected to play. I can think of a few players who could be selected to boost the current strength of the Wallaby squad, of course only as a "special dispensation".
Leon
Guest
wow. there is competition out there...Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu,Malakai Fekitoa, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Richard Kahui. But Im sure he will be on the bench during the Autumn tours coming on as an impact player.