Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sonny Bill Williams leaves the Bulldogs & League, goes to Toulon
Williams left the country with the brother of his manager Khoder Nasser on Saturday afternoon with the apparent intention of initiating negotiations with Toulon, the club currently coached by former All Black Tana Umaga.
The deal is believed to be worth around $3m over two years.
The Kiwis international has three and a half years to run on his contract with the Bulldogs club and his departure would constitute a breach of that contract.
Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenburg told ABC radio that Williams' manager Khoder Nasser had confirmed the star player's sudden departure.
"Quite simply, if Sonny intends to play overseas, we'll be looking to take out an injunction which will effectively stop him playing in France, England or anywhere else he intends to do it."
However, while the whole of the Australian League fraternity are up in arms, Toulon's president Mourad Boudjellal has since denied the signing, stating that they had spoken in the past, but nothing has been confirmed.
It's a sensational story in the world of League, with Sonny Bill Williams being one of the biggest names, if not the biggest, in the sport.
Mark Gasnier signed for Stade Francais recently, also of the French Top 14, shocking League fans. It looks like the big money is talking, with Williams hot on his heals.
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Posted at 2:53 pm | 19 comments
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Viewing 19 comments
el nino July 26, 2008 1:26 pm
Lol wtf seems abit random and sudden !?!another convert lol unions wher the moneys @ :Pnone of his big tackels will be legal in union, no arms :S
Shaft July 26, 2008 3:10 pm
Sonny Bill.. union.. interesting. Top 14 is going to be exciting this next season.
Anonymous July 26, 2008 4:06 pm
i hope he gets selected for the all blacks, lol i can see those rib breakers coming
Anonymous July 26, 2008 5:12 pm
top is going to be really great this next season, collins, masoe, gasnier, sonny bill, carter ... but wheres the young and futur talent for the french team, the young french players can't play in club because superstars take the place.sorry for my english.
sebastian July 26, 2008 6:01 pm
he must adjust to proper tackles otherwise he will spend most of his time in french off the pitch rather than on the pitch
Rancid July 26, 2008 6:47 pm
Sonny isn't that big of a hitter anyway. I can't recall him making any big tackles this year in the NRL.He's made out to be some tackle merchant, not really.
Anonymous July 27, 2008 3:37 am
Bottom line...Who cares . He is a thug and his tackles wont even be legal in union. And he's going to find it hard to get a contract after hes just walked out on the Bulldogs if he comes back to Australia or NZ.
Cheis July 27, 2008 12:19 pm
top 14 will have a lot of SA players too, gonna be great rugby, but hopefully the french players will get a chance, otherwise the next few world cups will be no more than Tri Nations..anywho, i don't really like the way this guy is leaving his old club!
Shaft July 27, 2008 5:56 pm
He's a superstar from the little I know about League, and it'll only enhance the Top 14, so it's not a bad thing. Unbelievable that he's still only 22 (apparently?)..I think the thug perception is just cause he's from League, where tackling laws are different. So he'll just need to change his technique slightly I guess, huge hitter or not.
Anonymous July 28, 2008 4:25 am
SBW is a hangar queen always injured and i am looking forward to some classy french or SA rugby players introducing him to the life at the bottom of the ruck. Definately not worth that amount of money and please his tackles are high and will get him injured. He isn't a tackle merchant he is a glory boy. Stay in league and out of union.
Anonymous July 28, 2008 6:35 am
Yeah i really think sonny bill will struggle adapting to union and will spend most of the season injured or banned. He'll also get the ball stripped of him heaps more cause of the way he holds the ball so he can do his fancy flick pass. Also picturing a guy like him trying to speak french is hilarious, i mean he cant even speak his first language properly
Anonymous July 28, 2008 8:41 am
i think he will be a smiliar player to kankowski or spies in union
Anonymous July 28, 2008 8:49 am
its official and the dogs are seuing the pants off him or trying he is going to play center for toulon
Anonymous July 29, 2008 12:00 am
If pigs could fly.......SBW can not be compared to Kankowski or Spies they are way to classy for him. He has to remember in the forwards in Union you can't just walk and sit behind the line. He isn't a tireless worker like those two or hardened like any reputable open side or any blindside for the matter. This just shows when things are tough and aren't going his way he cuts and runs.
Ryan August 22, 2008 11:17 pm
Seriously Sonny Bill is one of the most amazing rugby players ive seen. I play rugby union and league and he is one of the best people to watch! He makes the hits, and there big! So what league tackles are higher and tougher than union and in some cases he will have to learn he can not do that but honestly he is good! To be a rugby league player you have to be very very fit, much fitter than a union player so there will be no worries of him being able to stand up to the rucks etc. I bet you he has come over from rugby league, not only for money, but because he loves rugby and you can play rugby union for a lot longer than you can play league (about 5 or 6 years professionly infact). He will be the one to watch and I honestly believe he will be the new Jonah Lomu.
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