Rugby: Williams out of pre-season

Sonny Bill Williams will not be playing in Whangarei tomorrow. Photo / Nick Reed.

The girls may sulk but the guys will be relieved that the sight of a shirtless Sonny Bill Williams has been scratched from the list of attractions for tomorrow's Super Rugby pre-season match at Toll Stadium.

But with a host of other All Blacks due to be at the Chiefs game against the Blues, the unavailability of the high profile code swapper might not be a deal breaker, organisers hope.

Williams had featured on some of the advertising for the match but the early publicity was wrong and Williams will be busy preparing for his bout against American Chauncy Welliver, on Saturday night, in Sydney.

"The rest of the stars will be all be here, though," the Northland Rugby Union's Greg Shipton said.

"Aaron Cruden is due to appear at a question and answer session at level three and while not all will be playing, they'll be here in force."

With Chiefs players such as Cruden, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams and IRB Player of the Year Brodie Retallick, and the Blues' All Blacks including Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina, Stephen Luatua and Jimmy Cowan to name just a few - there is some serious quality on show for autograph hunters.

Shipton is expecting the area's rugby public to turn out in good numbers to watch the Blues take on the Chiefs.

"It will be a good quality game and Northland rugby fans know that if they want these kind of games [in the future], they need to turn out and support them," he said.

"It'll be good for the youngsters too; they'll get the chance to get signatures after the match."

The Blues are scheduled to arrive early tomorrow, while the Chiefs are due to arrive this afternoon.

The game kicks off at 7pm. Hospitality packages are available from the Northland Rugby Union, while general admission is $12 for adults and $6 for under-12s, with under-fives free.

Family packages start at $30 for unallocated seating and are $50 for the grandstand.