To Sign or Not to Sign

Twenty-four-year-old Aucklander Sonny Bill Williams is facing a sporting dilemma: does he play for the All Blacks at next year’s Rugby World Cup or sign a $6 million three-year deal with French side Toulon? The New Zealand Rugby Union cannot match that sort of money but is pulling out all stops to accommodate Williams, including offering him the choice of which provincial and Super rugby teams he wants to play for and the flexibility of returning to Europe or the NRL after the World Cup. “I have said before that playing for the All Blacks is the dream of every young boy growing up in New Zealand so it is something I have to weigh up,” Williams says. “I am just thankful that they are interested. Then again, I love Toulon so we’ll see.” Williams started his career as a rugby league player with the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Australasian NRL. He has also represented New Zealand in rugby league.