Sonny Bill Williams will be staying in New Zealand and hoping to be part of the All Black side that takes on the British & Irish Lions next year according to reports from the southern hemisphere.
The two-time World Cup winner is currently focusing on Sevens as he tries to stake a claim for a place in the New Zealand squad for the Olympic Games in Rio.
It was reported that Toulon, the club where he first played rugby union after switching from league, were on the verge of enticing him back to France.
Official Lions Supporter Tours are available now!
However New Zealand Herald columnist Gregor Paul has revealed that Williams is expected to stick with the All Blacks, and could be back playing XVs as soon as September, once he has completed his Olympic adventure.
According to Paul, Williams’ ability to switch from one code to another in a short space of time will see him granted the possibility of coming straight into the All Black reckoning after the Olympics.
With long-time centre pairing Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith both having retired from international rugby after the World Cup, the former is now in Toulon, there is a hole to fill in the All Black midfield.
Williams and Malakai Fekitoa were the other two centres who went to the World Cup last year, while Steve Hansen has name-checked Charlie Ngatai after his fine recent form for the Chiefs.
After his impressive displays off the bench at the World Cup, Williams has also been tipped to join the New Zealand leadership group after the retirements of a number of key players following the World Cup.
