SYDNEY Ex-New Zealand All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams is set to return to the National Rugby League after last appearing in the Australian competition in 2014.Williams plans to sign a short-term deal with the Sydney Roosters after his current club, the Toronto Wolfpack, had to withdraw from the England-based Super League season amid the coronavirus pandemic.The NRL is yet to formally ratify the deal, but Williams and the Roosters are confident the dual-code player will re-join the competition next month.Williams, who will turn 35 next week, said he had booked flights to go on a European family holiday before the Roosters offered a short-term contract to return to the NRL. Ex-New Zealand All Blacks star Williams is set to play in the National Rugby League for the first time since 2014 after being included on the Roosters' interchange bench for a Grand Final rematch against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Sonny Bill Williams of the Sydney Roosters National Rugby League team passes a ball during a training session in Sydney, August 15, 2020. His second was the most important, taking the team’s lead to 12 points midway through the second half.Williams’ first NRL game since 2014 came after he was included on the Roosters’ bench for a 2019 grand final rematch against the Raiders. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)Connect with the definitive source for global and local news
Sonny Bill Williams and Roosters boss Nick Politis reunite after the Wolfpack's loss to Warrington earlier this year. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)Sonny Bill Williams of the Sydney Roosters National Rugby League team passes a ball during a training session in Sydney, August 15, 2020. Williams, counting down his final days in …
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed retirement crossed his mind before answering an SOS to return to the Sydney Roosters. His team is now up to third place.He signed a short-term deal to return to the NRL champion Roosters after the Wolfpack withdrew from the Super League in July because of travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Sonny Bill Williams has returned to the NRL but his cameo paled in significance to the stunning masterclass from one of the games best players.
He has also played rugby sevens for New Zealand, competing in the 201516 World Rugby Sevens Series and the 2016 Rio Olympics.Williams said hes motivated by the challenge of testing himself in the NRL again its the challenge that I just get so excited about. Ex-New Zealand All Blacks star Williams is set to play in the National Rugby League for the first time since 2014 after being included on the Roosters' interchange bench for a Grand Final rematch against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. The 35-year-old Williams had to spend two weeks in quarantine after returning to Australia.He initially forged a reputation as a hard-hitting, hard-running forward for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL before switching to rugby union.Williams played 58 tests for the All Blacks and was part of the squads that won World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, spending two seasons in the NRL with the Roosters in between. Khoder Nasser, Anthony Mundine and other key …
CNN and the CNN logo are registered marks of Cable News Network, LP LLLP, displayed with permission. SYDNEY (AP) — Former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams made his much-hyped return to the National Rugby League on Saturday, a limited 14-minute playing stint helping his Sydney Roosters to beat the Canberra Raiders 18-6.He was hit hard by Raiders player Dunamis Lui on his first involvement in the second half, but still managed to get an offload pass to halfback Luke Keary and finished with four touches of the ball.Williams left the field with eight minutes to play in his first game since turning out in the English Super League for the Toronto Wolfpack in March.“I love being back in the game,” he said. I’m sure that Sonny is coming to learn plenty of stuff from us.___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCNN name, logo and all associated elements ® and © 2020 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
Williams and his family expect to spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival in Australia, and he likely wont play before the 15th round when the Roosters take on Wests Tigers on Aug. 22.Its no secret that Im pretty close with the lads at the Roosters, Nick (chairman Nick Politis) and Trent (coach Trent Robinson) and I stay in contact with, Williams told Australia’s Nine Network.
All rights reserved.