Toulon’s
Sonny Bill Williams has reportedly turned down a
massive $6m contract offer in order to return to New Zealand
and push for an All Blacks World Cup berth.
The
highly talented 24-year-old had been courted by the NZRU for
months, with All Blacks head coach Graham Henry even meeting
the player to discuss his future. At the same time cash-rich
Toulon tabled a three-year deal said to be worth $6m to
retain the centre’s services, but it seems the lure of the
All Blacks shirt – and the 2011 World Cup on home turf –
proved too great for Williams to refuse.
Top 14 Transfers 2010/11
He has
now signed an 18-month contract with the NZRU, although it
remains unknown which club franchise he will play for.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald an official
announcement will be made later this week, with Auckland a
possible destination as Williams and his partner have
property there.
His
decision to quit Toulon ends a successful two-year stint
with the French side after he controversially walked out on
a five-year contract with the Bulldogs. The former rugby
league international struggled with injury during his first
season but became an increasingly influential player during
2009/10 as he helped Toulon to second in Top 14 and the
final of the Amlin Challenge Cup – in which he scored the
club’s only try.
His loss
is a major blow to Toulon, although the deep pockets of
multi-millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal are likely to be
dipped into to find a suitable replacement.
The
ambitious Cote D’Azur club has already Paul Sackey, Carl
Hayman and George Smith to its impressive squad this summer,
with the prospect now of further signings to come.
Williams, meanwhile, could reportedly be drafted into the
All Blacks set up in time to be involved with their Spring
tour.
Elsewhere, Stade Francais centre Mathieu
Bastareaud has been forced to withdraw from France’s
summer tour to South Africa and Argentina. The 22-year-old,
who was infamously sent home from last summer’s tour to New
Zealand, injured his right hamstring in training on Friday
and has now been replaced by the uncapped Bayonne centre
Lionel Mazars.
Mazars
is currently with the France ‘A’ squad in Denver and is set
to fly to Cape Town to join the full squad on Monday.
“It’s
unfortunate for Mathieu, but injury is a part of our sport
and I wish him a speedy recovery” said France coach Marc
Lièvremont. A replacement for Mazars is expected to be
announced on Sunday.
Bastareaud is the third player to withdraw from Lièvremont's
original squad due to injury, following those of Imanol
Harinordoquy and Yannick Jauzion. They were replaced by
Florian Fritz and Gregory Lamboley respectively.
France's Under-20 side, meanwhile, began their IRB
Junior World Championship campaign with a 25-22 victory
over Ireland in Argentine.
Replacement Gilles Bosch was the French hero as he kicked a
late penalty to seal their Pool B win at the Estadio El
Coloso.
Bosch's
late penalty added to three earlier efforts as they rallied
from a 12-3 half-time deficit. Number eight Antoine Erbani
also powered over for a try as France downed the reigning
Six Nations Under-20 champions.
Pool B
opponents England also opened with a win, beating hosts
Argentina 22-48 to claim provisional top spot in the group.
France
face Argentina next up (on June 9th), before completing
their pool games against England (on June 13th).
Italy
have also been forced into a squad change ahead of their own
South African tour, with Bastareaud’s Stade Francais
colleague Mauro Bergamasco forced out with a right
hand injury. He has been replaced by Parma’s Simone Favaro,
although there is still a heavy presence of France-based
players in the squad with the likes of Stade Francais’
Sergio Parisse, Racing duo Mirco Bergamasco (Mauro’s
brother) and Andrea Masi, Bayonne pair Salvatore Perugini
and Craig Gower and Clermont centre Gonzalo Canale.
The Azurri are due to fly
to South Africa on June 13, with matches against the
Springboks in Witbank on June 19 and East London on June 26.
