Taniwha gets a big acquisition with Williams

Big Bryce Williams is swapping his snow shoes for boardshorts when he returns to his roots after signing to play for Northland in this year's ITM Cup rugby competition.
At 6'8" or 2.03m tall, Williams is a real find for the province that has struggled to secure good lineout ball over the past two seasons.
The 30-year-old lock was born and raised in Dargaville and made his mark in Northland playing for Kamo in the premier grade before moving to Auckland. He has two seasons of Super Rugby experience for the Crusaders and the Blues respectively, before signing a short-term contract to play for Leinster, in Europe.
"That got me started over there, we played against Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup and I had a couple of good games and they picked me up after that," he said.
He has been playing for Bourgoin in France for the past four seasons and is more than ready to head home.
"We've been overseas for a long time, six years now, and we're definitely looking forward to coming home - especially for my son Ashton's sake - he's three now and he hasn't spent much time with his grandparents ... and it'll be good for him to be able to learn a bit more English too," Williams said.
Rugby culture is deeply ingrained in Bourgoin but playing there also has its downside - it is situated in the foothills of the Alps and is extremely cold for four or five months of the year.
"We're about four or five hours away from any water, so we're looking forward to getting home and see the ocean a bit as well as getting away from the snow."
The former Maori All Black said most of his family were still based in the north, with his mum's family in Dargaville and his father's in Whangarei.
While that may cause a little friction over which Northland club he turns out for, he is looking forward to resuming his career for the province.
"I'm looking forward to coming back and playing a bit of rugby for the Taniwha - I'm sure the players will be disappointed with their position last season and will want to do better this year."
It's not the first time he has worn the Cambridge Blue of Northland.
"When I was 18 or 19 I was in the Northland development squad and there were a few injuries in the first team, so I sat on the bench for a few NPC games and played a pre-season game against Counties for the squad," Williams said.
The following season he departed for Auckland, where he started playing for the Suburbs club.
"My girlfriend at the time wanted to move to Auckland so we did and then I got picked up by the Auckland system and ended up playing five seasons of NPC for them and was picked up for two seasons of Super-12."
He played one season for the Crusaders in 2004 and but didn't get too much game time as the fourth lock alongside All Blacks Chris Jack, Brad Thorn and Norm Maxwell. He returned to Auckland the following season and was signed by the Blues.
"Then I had a shoulder reconstruction and after coming back I found myself coming off the bench a lot for Auckland so when an opportunity with Leinster came up for a 10-month contract I thought - why not?"