Sonny Bill Williams and Tana Umaga Toulon Dramas Continue
February 27, 2009
SONNY Bill Williams’ problems in Toulon, France continue. With Tana Umaga now playing a captain coach role with the club (the former All-Black donning the Rugby Union boots for the first time in several years) if things don’t improve quickly, the Toulon side will be relegated to lower Rugby divisions and surely Umaga and Williams would be shown the door.
The former NRL and Bulldogs player, Sonny Bill Williams has been closely watched from afar as he tries to make a successful transition to Rugby Union. However, it seems his on-going injuries (as they were in his NRL days) are causing problems and so is the performance of his team Toulon who simply cannot beat anyone at this stage.
A second season for Sonny Bill Williams seems very unlikely at Toulon.
The side; Toulon is genuinely a chance of dropping a division.
Tana Umaga was crucial in switching Sonny Bill Williams from Australian NRL across to Rugby in France; apart from Anthony Mundine and Khoder Nasser; Umaga was the ‘Father’ in waiting for SBW to ensure his smooth transition.
So if Umaga goes, certainly SBW will go too.
New ‘advisor’ to coaching at Toulon Philippe Saint-Andre will keep the pressure on all parties at the Rugby Union club in turmoil.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal is a hardliner and only wants the best for his club. He will not deal with losing and will push the boundaries to ensure victory for his people and club. Umaga and Sonny Bill need to ship up or face massive pressure it seems.
Super 14 Rugby Union could be on the cards for Sonny Bill Williams of Umaga it seems in the mid term.
Boudjellal has said he has a secret list of players he no longer wants the Toulon Rugby Union team.
Boudjellal is said to be very disappointed with the expensive international Rugby Union players in his team and wants to bring a more French flavour back to the side.