MEDIA RELEASE:
New Zealand Rugby and Chiefs on Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill Williams has informed New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs he will not be returning to rugby in New Zealand next year.
New Zealand Rugby General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said while disappointed not to have secured Williams for 2014, it was no secret the 28-year-old Auckland-born player had options for his playing career next year.
“We obviously worked pretty hard to bring Sonny home, and we have had some really good conversations with him. This is disappointing but we know we put our best foot forward, and in the end Sonny has made his decision,” Sorensen said.
“As we do with many players who leave New Zealand, we will continue to keep the lines of communication open with him about his playing career.”
Chiefs Head Coach Dave Rennie said: “While we are disappointed that Sonny won’t be with us in 2014 now, we’ll be keen to keep talking to him about future options.”
It is understood that Williams has informed the Roosters he will return to them for the 2014 season.
and wait and see. If the Chiefs were to not win the championship again next season , watch SBW run a mile, He only wants to join champion sides. No thoughts of helping out the Highlanders then & showing us how good you think you are , instead of jumping into a champion team & getting the glory.
Good to see also Steve Hansen saying he would CONSIDER selecting SBW in 2015 IF he showed good form in rugby! So no free entry into the ABs then this time either. He probably won’t be back then!