Williams comes back, aims to wear black

Sonny Bill Williams left rugby league for rugby union in 2008. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Sonny Bill Williams has decided an All Black jersey is worth more than six million dollars - he has rejected a mammoth deal to continue playing in France for the prospect of representing New Zealand at next year's World Cup.

Williams confirmed his future tonight, pledging his allegiance to the New Zealand Rugby Union until the end of 2011 - a scenario forecast since his manager Khoder Nasser was feted by All Blacks management in New Zealand last month.

"I'm coming home to pursue my childhood dream and work towards earning an All Blacks jersey," Williams said.

Questions did remain - Williams would not specify where he would play provincial rugby next month, or his franchise in next year's Super 15.

Counties Manakau, now coached by his mentor at Toulon the former All Black captain Tana Umaga, is the likely province while he is likely to join the Crusaders to continue his development outside Daniel Carter.

"My first decision has been to commit to New Zealand, the next step will be to decide on a province and I'll decide that closer to my return to New Zealand early next month."

There was remarkably little fanfare surrounding the 24-year-old's decision to return home for the first time in nine years at the expense of a new $2 million-per-season, three-year deal at Toulon.

Instead of being paraded at the NZRU media opportunity grasping the coveted jersey, the multi-talented footballer and budding boxer announced his intentions via Australian rugby league's Footy Show - a programme he still has an affinity with despite walking out on the National Rugby League and his Canterbury Bulldogs club for Toulon in 2008.

Two seasons later the Auckland-born former Kiwis league international has spurned an opportunity to stay in the south of France with the club which eased his transition to the 15-man code.

Williams said while Toulon offered both a superior lifestyle and money, the opportunity to play for the All Blacks in a World Cup was impossible to ignore.

"I'm always up for a challenge. The chance to play for a brand ... the All Blacks brand are the biggest sporting brand in the world.

"The chance to play in a competition (World Cup) watched by four billion people is something I couldn't let slip through my hands without having a go.

"This is the first step towards realising a dream," he said, adding an All Black jersey was not part of the deal.

"There's a lot of competition to make the All Blacks, I have to get back there and prove myself."

Acquiring Williams is a potential coup for the NZRU considering the organisation could not compete financially with the riches available to Toulon's president Mourad Boudjellal.

Instead, the All Blacks' management invested time as well as money.

Head coach Graham Henry spent up to 12 hours with Nasser outlining his plans for Williams and the opportunities for third-party sponsorship deals to supplement the NZRU's reported $550,000-per-year offer.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith also gave Nasser the grand tour of Christchurch and the Crusaders set-up. The Blues, Auckland and North Harbour were also given the once-over by Nasser.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew welcomed Williams' commitment as a sign of the continued pulling power of the black jersey.

"Sonny Bill has proved himself as an outstanding athlete and a skilful player in two codes and has shown his rugby potential with Toulon in France. He will be an exciting addition to the domestic competition."

Williams returns to New Zealand after his June 30 fight on the undercard of close friend Anthony Mundine's KO to Drugs promotion in Brisbane.

The ITM Cup starts on July 29 giving the midfield back - he prefers second five-eighth - less than a month's lead in time.

All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith has said if Williams' provincial form was compelling he would be selected for the All Blacks Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland; the first stop is the fourth Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies at Hong Kong on October 30.

Should he gain selection, Williams will be the first New Zealand league international to represent the All Blacks - hours after former Kiwi Shontayne Hape was chosen for his England test rugby debut against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.

Williams played seven times for the Kiwis between 2004-08.

- NZPA