Browse > Home / News / Toulon could extend Sonny Bill Williams stay

Toulon could extend Sonny Bill Williams stay

March 13, 2009

Toulon Rugby PlayersToulon Rugby Boss Mourad Boudjellal has said that the French club is close to extending a new agreement to former NRL star Sonny Bill Williams in the near future.

After getting together on Monday earlier this week, Mourad and SBW’s agent (Khoder Nasser) have agreed to financial terms – but just need to sign on the dotted line regarding the length of the deal.

Surprisingly Sonny Bill Williams is still only 23 years old – and remains a popular figure within Rugby ranks worldwide. The former NRL player sparked a media frenzy last year when he walked out on a binding contract mid-season to switch codes. Hiding in Europe, it was left to SBW supporters in Australia to strike a deal – avoiding any legal action.

Rugby Club Toulon hopes Williams can stay for another 3 years, but it’s believed Sonny Bill only wants a 2 year deal. After being injured early on in his Toulon career, SBW has been improving and will be delighted to get an offer after initially fearing the move was a poor one.

The powerful Boudjellal is confident SBW will stay.

“Unless there is a huge offer from elsewhere, Sonny Bill Williams will stay at Toulon,” Boudjellal said.

“The meeting was positive and I hope the new deal will be signed next Monday.”

New Toulon sporting director Philippe Saint-Andre will help oversee the deal, Saint-Andrew believed to be a big part of player decisions moving forward.

Saint-Andre, only kicking off his senior position with the Toulon Rugby Club on July 1.

Toulon has started another strong recruitment drive for next season, with plenty of money to burn and improvement to be had.

Argentine internationals Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) and Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe (Sale), England’s Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle) and Joe El Abd (Bristol) and Scottish brothers Sean (Northampton) and Rory Lamont (Sale) are all on Toulon’s wish-list.

Toulon is struggling in a poor 11th place in the 14-team French Rugby Competition.

Coach and former All Black great Tana Umaga came out of retirement in February in a bid to save the side from relegation and Toulon currently is 5 points away from the relegation zone with 7 games remaining.




Written by admin · Filed Under News 

Comments

One Response to “Toulon could extend Sonny Bill Williams stay”

  1. Edwin Lomax on September 25th, 2009 5:50 pm

    Will Sonny be coming back to New Zealand to be in contention for the All Blacks?

Got something to say?