Money Bill returning to union

Money Bill returning to union

19th December 2013 17:13

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Returning to union: SBW

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• New Zealand

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Sonny Bill Williams is to return to New Zealand rugby, confirming on Thursday a two-year deal with the NZRU and the Chiefs franchise.

The deal for 2015-2016 will see 28-year-old Williams again play for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and push again for All Blacks honours.

Williams previously played for Canterbury in the ITM Cup, the Crusaders and Chiefs Super Rugby teams and the All Blacks from 2010 to 2012.

Williams will return to New Zealand once he has completed his NRL commitments next year.

"Sonny showed in his two years with New Zealand rugby that he is an outstanding talent and was a real asset to our game. We are delighted to have agreed terms which will see him return to rugby in 2015," said New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew.

"We're rapt," added Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.

"We made no secret that we were keen to get Sonny back in a Chiefs jersey. He's not only a quality player but adds huge value to our environment off the field."

Tew said while the Chiefs will be the primary focus when he returns, Williams had also been open about his desire to push for a spot in the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad in 2015 and to make himself available for selection in the All Blacks Sevens team as they push towards the Rio Olympics in 2016.

"We think it is great that he has made his aspirations clear and if he plays well enough to be considered for selection for those teams, then that is fantastic," added Tew.

Sonny Bill Williams played 19 Tests for the All Blacks and more than 30 Super Rugby matches for the Chiefs and Crusaders from 2010-2012. He first played for Canterbury in the ITM Cup and with his size, strength and trademark offloads he made an immediate impact, became a fan favourite, and was picked for the All Blacks on the 2010 end of year tour, playing in four Tests.

He played for the Crusaders in the 2011 Investec Super Rugby season and his impressive form saw him selected again for the All Blacks Tri Nations side and Rugby World Cup-winning squad. He made the switch to the Chiefs in 2012 helping them win the Investec Super Rugby competition. He played five more Tests for the All Blacks before heading to Japan and then back to rugby league in Australia.

Looks like he is going to cash in on the World cup, after ditching the All Blacks for the Roosters for 2 years. 

NZ rugby has every adult male and female rugby title, trophy and top rank, with the All Blacks achieving what no other team could do by having a 100% season, and now SBW will be injected into the ranks next year??? o_O

as if there wasnt enough reasons for the locals and the rest of the world for that matter to be envious and scared, lolz,

i have serious doubts about SBW making the sevens team though, gordon tiejens has already said in the past that players must be committed to the 7s cause in order to be considered for selection at rio.

but it wouldnt be the first time a NZ rugby rugby head back flipped on a comment regarding SBW.

wish him SBW all the best, but NZ rugby dosnet need SBW, but he is a nice sweetener .

 What depth the ABs will now have for RWC 2015! Look out World, SBW's back and ready to mow over many a midfield!!

NZ rugby needs forwards with more power than another inside center. 
The All Blacks got out muscled by all the Northern Hemishpere forwards in the tight, and it was just in the loose that NZ were able to find some space right at the end of games to clinch games that they are very fortunate to win.
I doubt the Northern Hemishpere teams are intimidated by the All Black forwards on European pitches.
The All Black forwards do not get much go forward on their own ball, and then it is a case of a team protecting their own ball, the All Blacks are then under serious pressure.

Ma Nonu is quality and also brings a kicking game that SBW does not have, and Nonu is a better crash ball. 
Nonu is also probably better on defence than SBW with more experience at rugby in the centre position.
It is probably a tie for illegal shoulder charges between the two of them.
SBW is obviously a better distributor but not as if Nonu is bad in passing skills either. On a faster pitch SBW could be better but in the Northern Hemishpere Nonu could be better.

We simply need to play Frans Steyn at center to flatten him. One hard hit and its over. Look what old man Botha did to sbw.  
Be realistic kbbs and accept that the Mighty Boks are set to rule. Time to vacant the throne to the real kings of rugby oaks.
Moooooo la we all saw the abs being outplayed by the Irish and the French. You cant honestly think the wee abs can win the next WC. 
No I appeal to all kbbs to adopt a more realistic approach, show humilty and accept your destiny as being a stepping stone to the Mighty Boks. 
Thanks

 Sharkbok, I agree about those NH pitches - they are terrible, simply terrible.
Beeno, Frans Steyn just needs to take it easy on those McDonald burgers and fries or the only sport he'll be taking part in would be Sumo wrestling. Hakwa as usual giving healthy advice to his fat friends.

Sharkbok I think you see NZ forwards through SA bias glasses and you see what you hope to see. Even if the AB's were outmuscled in NH the fact that they still won should worry the crap out of other teams. Noticeably if I was a SA fan I'ld be concerned that in teams selected by fans or websites that AB's outnumber Boks in forwards selected.  

Polyboy I saw a Springbok team that was not troubled the whole tour, and I saw an All Black team that could have lost all their games. 
The Springboks never looked troubled and were easily more convincing than the All Blacks. The Northern Hemisphere forwards although physical on the slower pitches were no real threat to the boks.
The boks conceded one try the whole tour and it from a very fortuitous bounce where the Ball ricocheted. The All Blacks on the other hands defense was breached many times. 
No the All Black forwards did not worry anyone on this tour. A good tactical kicking game would have beaten the All Blacks as it would have kept them in the their own half with little ball and space to counter attack with. 
The All Blacks got back into games from counter attacking which they usually do as the game opens up towards the end as players tire. A superior kicking game and keeping the ball among-st the forwards and the All Blacks could have been down 0-3. 
Kieren Reid is good, Retalick was good in the 4 nations but average in Europe. Mccaw was pretty good. Not many of the other forwards stood out. 
It is really the All Black light 5 and fetchers. This works well for NewZealand on a fast hard pitch as they can just move it away from the forwards as quick as possible and use the big fast backline players to run from side to side.

 Woulda ,coulda ,shoulda. scoreboard talks bullshit walks ,dont ask beandip about how the score board thingy works as it sends him out of his tiny little mind and into opposite world ......

"I saw a Springbok team that was not troubled the whole tour, and I saw an All Black team that could have lost all their games."

Thats strange because I saw a geriatric Springbok team that has only beaten the ABs once in 4 years. I also saw an AB team that has only lost 1 Test since the 2011 RWC. If the Bokke fanboys were ever in a position where they could boast a similarly impressive record, they would be even more conceited and obnoxious than they currently are with their comparatively unimpressive Test results.  

Like I said Sharkbok "SA bias glasses" if your "analysis" gives you comfort so be it. Results speak volumes, and the most significant result is the AB's 2013 unbeaten season, not to mention the several accolades and awards they garnered this season.