SBW set to sign for......

sparky

The NZRU........
 
Gregor Paul seems to be sure of his sauces.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646825'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646825</a>
 
Sonny Bill Williams has agreed to stay in New Zealand and has signed what is thought to be a three-year deal that will take him through to the 2019 World Cup.
Having switched between league and rugby twice since 2008, Williams is determined to make it to a third World Cup with the All Blacks. He has rejected offers to return to the NRL and rejoin his former French club Toulon to give the remainder of his football career to the 15-man game and New Zealand rugby.
Recent promotion to the All Blacks' leadership group helped convince the 30-year-old that head coach Steve Hansen sees him as a vital part of the national side. Williams has won 33 test caps and two World Cup winners' medals but has not been a regular starter.
With Ma'a Nonu having retired, the way has been paved for Williams to establish himself as the All Blacks' preferred second five-eighth and take ownership of a jersey he first wore in 2010.
 
<div> </div>
Williams has previously signed only one-year deals but his certainty that he wants to win 50 test caps and be remembered as a great All Black is thought to have persuaded him to make a longer commitment.
By doing that, he was also able to benefit from the newly-signed broadcast deal. Williams, like all senior players in New Zealand, will enjoy a massively-improved pay deal as a result of the 100 per cent increase in TV income. He will also be allowed to box professionally as part of the deal.
Confirmation of Williams' commitment to New Zealand Rugby will come on Wednesday at a press conference in Auckland but it is not yet known which Super Rugby side he intends to play for.
Both the Chiefs and Blues are in the running to capture his signature and it is understood he will make his decision as late as the night before his contract signing is unveiled.
Williams is understood to be torn between the two offers.
The Chiefs were his rugby saviour and he feels a loyalty to them. Having initially played for the Crusaders when he arrived in New Zealand six years ago, Williams didn't settle well in Christchurch.
He wasn't warmly embraced by the Crusaders' senior All Blacks and when his coaching mentor, Wayne Smith, shifted to the Chiefs as technical director in 2012, Williams decided to follow him.
The shift paid immediate dividend as he struck a deadly partnership with first-five Aaron Cruden and formed a strong friendship with captain Liam Messam. The Chiefs won the title that year and Williams was instrumental in delivering it.
After he fulfilled what he said was a long-made commitment to return to the NRL in 2013 and 2014, Williams rejoined the Chiefs for the 2015 season and is technically available to them between sevens commitments. But while he has loyalty to the Chiefs, he also has a strong relationship with Blues coach Tana Umaga who was at Toulon when Williams first defected from league.
Umaga, as a former world-class midfielder, had a major influence on Williams' early rugby development and the two are close.
Williams played for Umaga's Counties Manukau team in the ITM Cup when he returned from the Sydney Roosters in 2014.
He and his family are currently based in Auckland, the city in which he grew up before he left for Sydney in his mid-teens.
Snaring Williams would be a massive coup for the struggling Blues who are short of star quality and seemingly always miss out in any competitive process to sign leading talent. They made a bid to sign Damian McKenzie earlier this month but he rejected their offer to stay at the Chiefs and it confirmed the damaging perception that the best players don't want to head to Auckland.
Sonny Bill Williams
Age: 30 Height: 1.94m Weight: 108kg Caps: 33
Teams 
2010: Canterbury 
2011: Crusaders 
2012 and 2015: Chiefs 
2014: Counties Manukau 
2010-12, 2014: All Blacks 
2016: All Blacks Sevens
Test debut: November 6, 2010 v England at Twickenham Test tries: 9

kiwiinmelb

Someone on Veitchys show yesterday was saying that he is pretty keen to link up with Tana again , 
 
An SBW Moala midfield could be fairly potent

Billy Tell

I believe it when I see it.

rotated

SBW is 31 in August, 34 by RWC 2019. Smith and Nonu were 34 and 33 respectively at the last world cup - so age isn't an issue theoretically.
 
I would be excited if SBW knuckles down and sets his sights on either then starting 12 or 13 jumper come next RWC. Because for all the success his teams have had across the globe - he hasn't got close to having custody of a starting All Black jersey. I think that's an achievement he saw as a given once he walked into the NZRU set up - but I hope now he realises if he does it it'll be his greatest achievement IMO.
 
The Blues angle holds little interest to me. He is likely a distraction if he comes into the fold, but if Rennie &/or Messam go I'd say there is a good chance it happens.

Crucial

Remember also that SBW has become a dad since much of his code hopping. The extended time away this year on the 7s circuit may well fuel a desire to be near his young family more. That could well point toward a Blues signing.
 
On the flip side though, getting a Cruden combo going again would be more beneficial to trying to work with whoever the Blues have at 10 (unless Tana has a good signing up his sleeve there)

taniwharugby

Will this quell the articles about him heading back to league or will he still be the subject of media scrutiny about his and his managers every move. 
Is good though he is committing this long, give him a chance to make a claim for the 12 jersey.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="583595" data-time="1464469369">
<div>
Will this quell the articles about him heading back to league or will he still be the subject of media scrutiny about his and his managers every move. 
Is good though he is committing this long, give him a chance to make a claim for the 12 jersey.
</div>
</blockquote>
It gives him the chance to attain legendary BBBT-like status

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583573" data-time="1464459582">
<div>
The NZRU........
 
Gregor Paul seems to be sure of his sauces.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646825'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646825</a>
 
Sonny Bill Williams has agreed to stay in New Zealand and has signed what is thought to be a three-year deal that will take him through to the 2019 World Cup.
Having switched between league and rugby twice since 2008, Williams is determined to make it to a third World Cup with the All Blacks. He has rejected offers to return to the NRL and rejoin his former French club Toulon to give the remainder of his football career to the 15-man game and New Zealand rugby.
Recent promotion to the All Blacks' leadership group helped convince the 30-year-old that head coach Steve Hansen sees him as a vital part of the national side. Williams has won 33 test caps and two World Cup winners' medals but has not been a regular starter.
With Ma'a Nonu having retired, the way has been paved for Williams to establish himself as the All Blacks' preferred second five-eighth and take ownership of a jersey he first wore in 2010.
 
<div> </div>
Williams has previously signed only one-year deals but his certainty that he wants to win 50 test caps and be remembered as a great All Black is thought to have persuaded him to make a longer commitment.
By doing that, he was also able to benefit from the newly-signed broadcast deal. Williams, like all senior players in New Zealand, will enjoy a massively-improved pay deal as a result of the 100 per cent increase in TV income. He will also be allowed to box professionally as part of the deal.
Confirmation of Williams' commitment to New Zealand Rugby will come on Wednesday at a press conference in Auckland but it is not yet known which Super Rugby side he intends to play for.
Both the Chiefs and Blues are in the running to capture his signature and it is understood he will make his decision as late as the night before his contract signing is unveiled.
Williams is understood to be torn between the two offers.
The Chiefs were his rugby saviour and he feels a loyalty to them. Having initially played for the Crusaders when he arrived in New Zealand six years ago, Williams didn't settle well in Christchurch.
He wasn't warmly embraced by the Crusaders' senior All Blacks and when his coaching mentor, Wayne Smith, shifted to the Chiefs as technical director in 2012, Williams decided to follow him.
The shift paid immediate dividend as he struck a deadly partnership with first-five Aaron Cruden and formed a strong friendship with captain Liam Messam. The Chiefs won the title that year and Williams was instrumental in delivering it.
After he fulfilled what he said was a long-made commitment to return to the NRL in 2013 and 2014, Williams rejoined the Chiefs for the 2015 season and is technically available to them between sevens commitments. But while he has loyalty to the Chiefs, he also has a strong relationship with Blues coach Tana Umaga who was at Toulon when Williams first defected from league.
Umaga, as a former world-class midfielder, had a major influence on Williams' early rugby development and the two are close.
Williams played for Umaga's Counties Manukau team in the ITM Cup when he returned from the Sydney Roosters in 2014.
He and his family are currently based in Auckland, the city in which he grew up before he left for Sydney in his mid-teens.
Snaring Williams would be a massive coup for the struggling Blues who are short of star quality and seemingly always miss out in any competitive process to sign leading talent. They made a bid to sign Damian McKenzie earlier this month but he rejected their offer to stay at the Chiefs and it confirmed the damaging perception that the best players don't want to head to Auckland.
Sonny Bill Williams
Age: 30 Height: 1.94m Weight: 108kg Caps: 33
Teams 
2010: Canterbury 
2011: Crusaders 
2012 and 2015: Chiefs 
2014: Counties Manukau 
2010-12, 2014: All Blacks 
2016: All Blacks Sevens
Test debut: November 6, 2010 v England at Twickenham Test tries: 9
</div>
</blockquote>
 
That's definitely a bit of news to spice up the day

Unco

Remember when the media thought it was a sure him SBW would come back in 2014? I'll believe it when I see it.
 
Though if he does come back to the Chiefs, fuck will we have a stacked midfield. Not a bad thing when SBW, Ngatai and ALB are all pretty injury prone.

Canes4life

A midfield of SBW and Reiko Ioane for the Blues would be the most devastating in New Zealand if they can manage to get Sonny to Auckland.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="583709" data-time="1464492157">Remember when the media thought it was a sure him SBW would come back in 2014? I'll believe it when I see it. 
 
Though if he does come back to the Chiefs, fuck will we have a stacked midfield. Not a bad thing when SBW, Ngatai and ALB are all pretty injury prone.</blockquote>
 
Was my first thought as well, we've heard this all before.

NTA

More mosques in Auckland isn't there? Less hicks? :whistle:

sparky

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="583736" data-time="1464501415">
<div>
More mosques in Auckland isn't there? Less hicks? :whistle:
</div>
</blockquote>
 
So bloody what? And the correct grammar is fewer hicks.

Rancid Schnitzel

I'll believe it when I see it. Could just as easily be misinfo fed by his management to get better offers out of league or the Frogs. 
Would be nice to see him actually commit to the abs for a decent length of time. But it would be out of character for him to do so.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="583748" data-time="1464506074">
<div>
Would be nice to see him actually commit to the abs for a decent length of time. But it would be out of character for him to do so.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
If you make simple promises, being a man of your word is pretty sweet, particularly when you do things on a handshake.
 
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583744" data-time="1464504697">
<div>
So bloody what? And the correct grammar is fewer hicks.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Oh burn.
 
And my point is: maybe the provincial lifestyle is hard for a dedicated Muslim ;)

sparky

Great to see one of the best players in the world return to NZ Rugby, especially when there was a lot of coin on offer to go elsewhere.
 
There is an element of the circus around SBW, but he's also proven he's a fantastic player who can be a team man too. He was one of the AB's most consistent performers in the RWC and was player of the game in the opener against Argentina.

Baron Silas Greenback

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="583749" data-time="1464506219">
<div>
If you make simple promises, being a man of your word is pretty sweet, particularly when you do things on a handshake.
 
 
 
 
Oh burn.
 
And my point is: maybe the provincial lifestyle is hard for a dedicated Muslim ;)
 
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Your point is retarded

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="583748" data-time="1464506074">I'll believe it when I see it. Could just as easily be misinfo fed by his management to get better offers out of league or the Frogs. 
Would be nice to see him actually commit to the abs for a decent length of time. But it would be out of character for him to do so.</blockquote>
 
He is currently committed to the ABs as it is. The AB Sevens. 
BTW Titch is singing his praises for the professionalism, leadership and dedication he has brought in to the squad.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="583736" data-time="1464501415">
<div>
More mosques in Auckland isn't there? Less hicks? :whistle:
</div>
</blockquote>
The Tron has a vibrant Muslim community with a large active mosque.

Mokey

Oh FFS. Please say there is not going to be another will he won't he signing wankfest about Sonny Bill.
 
We've just got a whole new bunch of AB's to get amped about.
 
As for the whole 'professional boxing' thing, gross. He's not a boxer's arse. Joe Parker is a boxer, and even the thought of SBW getting coverage and holding up some bullshit belt after fighting a decrepit tub of lard is revolting.

The Silver Fern

SBW set to sign for......