Sonny Bill Williams returns to rugby league

Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams will return to his rugby league roots next year after signing a one-year deal to play for the Sydney Roosters in Australia’s National Rugby League. Five years after walking out mid-season on an NRL contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs to begin a rugby union career which took him to France, New Zealand and Japan, Williams has returned to league. At a news conference on Tuesday, Williams said the decision to leave rugby union was “tough”. He said he was only doing so to honour a handshake agreement he made with Roosters chairman Nick Politis three years ago. The 27-year-old Williams, who is also a heavyweight boxer with a perfect record from five bouts, said he loved rugby union, particularly his involvement with the Super 15 champion Waikato Chiefs and the World Cup champions All Blacks. Williams was banned from the NRL for five years after quitting the Bulldogs in 2008 to take up a lucrative contract with the French rugby union club Toulon. His code switch was aided by former All Blacks captain and then Toulon coach Tana Umaga, who helped Williams adapt from 13-man league to 15-man union. Williams then rejected a substantial sum to remain in France in 2010, deciding instead to return to his native New Zealand and to attempt to fulfil a childhood ambition by playing for the All Blacks. Williams played for a season in the Super 15 for the seven-time champion Canterbury Crusaders, winning All Blacks selection after proving himself as a strong and damaging runner in midfield. He then switched his domestic allegiance to the Waikato Chiefs, following the trend of his career of only spending short spells with any team. Williams went on to play 30 Tests for New Zealand, although public opinion over his effectiveness and the success of his switch to rugby union remained divided throughout his career. Williams was a greater influence on the Waikato Chiefs team that won the Super 15 title this year for the first time and he developed a strong bond with his Chiefs teammates. But he again balked at re-signing and instead took up a contract in Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights. The contract was reportedly the largest ever signed by a rugby union player for a single season. But Williams played only a handful of games before suffering injuries to his shoulder and sternum which his Japanese season. His return to rugby league had been widely anticipated, but Williams told reporters on Tuesday attempting a comeback after five years away from the sport was a “huge challenge.” “The [Roosters] boys are a great bunch of blokes, a bit like the Chiefs,” he said. “They’re real young. “I’m looking forward to getting out there in a game I grew up playing and put my best foot forward.” Williams’ return to rugby league was hailed as a potential boost to the sport’s television ratings in its ongoing battle with rival football codes. The head of sport for Australian television network Channel Nine, Steve Crawley, described the deal as “one of the great signings”. But Hashim Al Masri, a former team mate of Williams at the Bulldogs, said “the way he left the game, if it was me to be honest with you, I wouldn’t even let him back in the game. “I’ve never disputed his talent, I have just disputed the way he went about things. I hated the way he left all his team mates behind and took off.” From Gulfnews