Sonny Bill gets NZ rugby contract offer

Reuters

WILL HE OR WON'T HE?: Sonny Bill Williams has received a contract offer from the NZRU is set to meet with All Blacks coach Graham Henry in Auckland.

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The once long odds of Sonny Bill Williams playing for the All Blacks have shortened with confirmation the New Zealand Rugby Union offered him a contract this week and news Williams will visit Auckland early next month to discuss a possible playing future here with coach Graham Henry.

Williams' contract with his French club Toulon recently expired and his management team has fielded offers from clubs from France, Britain, Japan and Australia. But little old New Zealand has stolen a march.

Despite the NZRU's offer being substantially less than what he currently earns, it includes one big carrot, a water-tight series of "opt-out clauses" which would free Williams to pursue other interests should he fail to make the grade in the All Blacks.

It effectively allows him to dip his toes in the New Zealand rugby scene to see if he likes it.

If he doesn't, he can go back to Toulon before his contract offer expires in 2012.

So far, Williams has made no public comment. But his management team of Khoder Nasser and his London based Kiwi legal representative Duncan Sandlant have both said they were "impressed" by the NZRU's attempts to "woo" Williams and there is genuine excitement closer to home that he may make the plunge.

Henry has gauged Blues coach Pat Lam's interest in slotting him into his squad and provincial union North Harbour is believed to have been the most proactive when the NZRU asked who would roll out the welcome mat.

Williams' partner, Jenna Shaw, has struck up a close relationship with the daughter of All Blacks great Bryan Williams, fuelling hopes in the Ponsonby club another famous Samoan may pull on their jersey.

Acting NZRU chief executive Neil Sorensen said the NZRU's offer "extends to the end of 2012 but we have included opt-out clauses".

Sorensen said the NZRU board "would not change its criteria on the [non] eligibility of overseas players" for the All Blacks.

"So we are trying to be as flexible as we can for Sonny. In an absolutely ideal world Sonny would play for a provincial union in the ITM Cup towards the end of July and then would be available for selection on the All Blacks' end-of-year tour.

"There is a lot of water to flow under that bridge. Sonny has a big decision to make.

Hopefully we will have an answer within the next three to four weeks."

Signing Williams would be a massive gamble. He is largely untested in rugby union. But Henry is keen to at least see how he fares in New Zealand.

"[Henry] has received some pretty good feedback about him," said Sorensen. "They talk about him not being the finished product but he has massive potential.

"He would attract a lot of interest from the fans, media, sponsors and sporting people in general. The key is to sit down with him, our All Blacks coaches and maybe a franchise coach and tell him what we can offer on and off the field."

- © Fairfax NZ News