Sonny Bill Williams Rejects Toulon offer to chase All Black Dream

[nickdnz]

Sonny Bill commits to NZ Rugby Union

AAP - June 11, 2010, 1:32 am

AAP ©



Controversial former Canterbury Bulldogs and New Zealand rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has announced he will commit to the New Zealand Rugby Union in a bid to achieve his dream of representing the All Blacks.

Williams, who has played for French rugby club Toulon in the last two northern hemisphere winters, announced his decision on the Nine Network Footy Show.

The 24-year-old powerhouse, who walked out on his contract with the Bulldogs in mid-2008, said he hadn't yet decided which New Zealand provincial rugby team he would play for.

"I'm going to take up the opportunity to realise a dream and go back to New Zealand and try and aspire to play for the All Blacks," Williams said.

"It's a lot less money than what Europe offers but I just feel that for my immediate playing future this is the best decision for me."

Although he has two seasons of rugby under his belt, Williams didn't declare himself ready to represent the All Blacks.

"I wouldn't say I'm ready to, I'd love to, it would be a dream come true," Williams said.

"But I feel that me putting myself in this position is the first steps towards realising a dream.

"I know there's fierce competition over there to play for the All Blacks and I've definitely got to go back and prove myself first and foremost, that's what first of all I'm looking to do."

Williams was unsure about which province he would represent and said his manager Khoder Nasser was sifting through the options.

"Hopefully I'll have a concrete answer in the next couple of weeks what provincial team I'll be going to.

"I'm definitely excited about first and foremost going to New Zealand and I'm just thankful to the New Zealand Rugby Union and (coach) Graham Henry and (assistant coach) Wayne Smith."

Asked if it was a lifestyle decision, Williams said if that had been the case he would have stayed in France.

"The All Blacks are the biggest sporting brand in the world and the chance to play for them in a competition that's watched by more than four billion people, is something I couldn't let slip through my hands," Williams said.

Williams, who has been tried in both the forwards and backs by Toulon, suggested inside centre would be his preferred position.

"It helped playing alongside (England five-eighth) Jonny Wilkinson, he really gave me a lot of confidence in my game," Williams said.

"It just showed in the last couple of months the way I was playing, how happy I was."

Asked if he would do things differently if he was going to walk out on the Bulldogs now, Williams said "yes".

"I just want to say to all the fans out there that have stuck by me and even before I left, I guess at the time I done what I done.

"My intentions weren't to hurt anyone. Probably the people that I've hurt, I just want you to know that it wasn't intentional."

Williams was looking forward to his second professional boxing bout, against an opponent to be determined, on the undercard of his friend Anthony Mundine's next contest in Brisbane on June 30.

Well, wether everyone likes it or not, SBW has officially announced tonight that he is returning to NZ...
http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/7378353/sonny-commits-nz-rugby-union

The one thing that will annoy me, is he will be releaced from his contract if he isn't in the RWC squad. If he plays in the RWC, and then leaves back to Toloun, I'll be ******.

 

[Conal]

watched by 4billion?? so according to him 2 out of every three people in the world watch the all balcks play??

 

[Thingimubob]

he said 'competition thats watched by 4 billion' so he's on about the World Cup not just the All Blacks. Is that number right for the RWC though? Doubt it.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think that's the cumulative figure as well, meaning that if you watch two matches you are counted twice.

 

[Conal]

must be cuz i doubt 2 out of every three people on the planet sit down to watch rugby

 

[Wally]

I don't think you realise what a power-house like Nonu is. The fact is, we have the two best centres in the world, Nonu and Smith, no one could break that combo, no one. SBW is going to try and crack it? I see him being at max a bench warmer, but then he will get ****** off with at how little game time he is getting and go cry back to his Top 14 money making. Nonu and Smith are amazing, they are the most underrated pair in rugby. SBW no matter how good he is will never break into that All Blacks team unless Nonu is injured.

Mate you have proved you are nothing more than a clueless All Black fanboy. The world's two best centres are Nonu and Smith? Are you joking? They weren't even the best players in their position in this year's Super 14. Forget about O'Driscoll, Giteau and Jaque Fourie. If you took off your poo stained glasses once in a while you would realise Sonny Bill Williams is a good player, and has huge potential to be a great one. Nonu is very one dimensional. After watching Williams for the number of years I have I can honestly say, and more importantly unbiasedly say, that for all Nonu brings to the field, Williams has every chance to do it better.

 

[Dizzy]

Mate you have proved you are nothing more than a clueless All Black fanboy. The world's two best centres are Nonu and Smith? Are you joking? They weren't even the best players in their position in this year's Super 14. Forget about O'Driscoll, Giteau and Jaque Fourie. If you took off your poo stained glasses once in a while you would realise Sonny Bill Williams is a good player, and has huge potential to be a great one. Nonu is very one dimensional. After watching Williams for the number of years I have I can honestly say, and more importantly unbiasedly say, that for all Nonu brings to the field, Williams has every chance to do it better.

I agree with you that Sonny Bill Williams is a great player and has potential to become even greater... but i dont agree with you saying Nonu is one dimensional... When Nonu first burst on to the scene he was one dimensional, all he did was run and bust tackles.. But now, Nonu has developed his game alot and has become a better player all round. He used to be a lazy defender but he has picked up and does give chase for cover defense, He has developed his passing game, from being a greedy "up-the-guts" player to, passing it out to create space. As well as keeping his ability to break tackles and draw in two or three defenders crashing down leaving an overlap if the all blacks retain quick ball.
And he has started to bring a kicking game into his arsenal as well, he has attempted grubber kicks and finished off with tries and has at times had to kick for territory with more than pleasing results..

 

[Amobokoboko]

Would be great to see SBW in an AB jersey, guy got skills. On the Nonu topic, he has developed his game thru out the years and became a "more complete player"