Sonny Bill Williams to stay with New Zealand Rugby Union at least one more year - Rugby News
Sonny Bill Williams will have to stay with New Zealand Rugby Union at least for one more year as the Australian Rugby Union become a hurdle in his way to join New South Wales Waratahs for the next season of Super Rugby. He has not cleared his future line
of action yet, however, he was reported a leave for Australia to play for the Waratahs. But the latest developments have poured cold water on his designs. Williams had made a verbal contract with NZRU, confirmed by Steve Tew on August 11 and said that he has
to yet to put pen to paper with the union.
Talking to the local media NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said that has made just a verbal deal with the union which he is expected to fulfil. He added that, “No, we haven't, but Sonny Bill has been very kind in public saying he intends to stay in New Zealand.
Until he decides where he is going to play his footy [Super Rugby], we won't get pen to paper, and I have been saying that whenever anyone talks to me about Sonny Bill.”
Sonny Bill Williams was hopeful to move to Australia because he has family on Wallabies soil but International Rugby Board’s rules state that once a player has represented any nation he will be considered the player of that particular country his whole life.
Meanwhile, ARU have rules that state a franchise can include only one offshore player in its line-up during the Super Rugby championship and Waratahs already have signed with South African star Sarel Pretorius.
New South Wales Waratahs have been in contact with All Blacks and the Crusaders rising star to hire him for the next championship of Super Rugby from the end of this years’ stall.
Waratahs chief executive, Jason Allen, also talked to journalists and said that unless the ARU laws are not changed they are unable to do anything in this regard. He also said that, “We have still got a spot or two in our squad. If the question is if we
would ever want him in our squad if we could fulfil any financial demands - of course, without a doubt. We would be thrilled. He would be a real asset.”
Australian Rugby Union had introduced the strict laws of allowing just one foreigner in their Super Rugby sides to encourage local players in 2008.
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