Stephen Kearney. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and New Zealand lawyer Duncan Sandlant were yesterday named as key figures in league star Sonny Bill Williams' defection to French rugby.
Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said Toulon coach Umaga, his former Junior Kiwis teammate, spoke of his plans to lure Williams
to rugby when they caught up in Melbourne last month.
"Tana was up front with me. He said, 'I've spoken to Sonny's management group', and he made sure to keep me in the loop of what was going on," Kearney told Sunday News.
"I was certainly aware of his interest in Sonny and he was here doing the sly."
But Kearney said he felt powerless to stop Toulon's advances, and that Umaga "got me a little beauty".
"I made Tana aware of what the plans were for Sonny, not only for the World Cup but also our game in New Zealand.
"[But] who am I to step in and interfere? What I can tell you is Tana did tell me that he and Sonny had been communicating."
Kearney said Williams had previously confided in him some "private issues" which played a part in his walking out of the Bulldogs, one year into a five-year contract with the Sydney club.
Williams played his first match under Kearney in the Centenary test loss to Australia in May and is still eligible to play for the Kiwis at the World Cup in October-November - if a court injunction being pursued by the National Rugby League prevents him switching codes.
Williams, who turned 23 yesterday, is reportedly poised to sign a two-year, A$3 million ($3.9 million) deal with Toulon.
Sandlant, a London-based sports lawyer from Dunedin, was named as the man who met Williams at Heathrow Airport.
Despite being photographed in a London taxi with Williams, Sandlant told the Sunday Telegraph: "You have got the wrong person."
He wrote in an email to the Sun-Herald newspaper: "I think you have been misinformed here, as I have not been instructed by Sonny Bill Williams or his agent to provide any legal advice.
"Tana Umaga is one of my clients but I have not been instructed to provide any legal advice to Tana in this regard either."
Meanwhile, NRL chief executive David Gallop has softened his stance on Williams returning to play league in Australia, saying he would be welcomed back if he apologised.
- NZPA
