Bill faces 'contempt of court' charges
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:10
An Australian court on Friday blocked Rugby League back row forward Sonny Bill Williams from switching codes to play for French Rugby Union club Toulon.
The New South Wales Supreme Court granted an injunction to the Canterbury Bulldogs team against their former star, after he walked out on a five-year contract and flew to France nearly two weeks ago.
The ruling, which came just 12 hours ahead of New Zealand-born Williams' debut with Toulon, means he will be in contempt of court if he plays in Friday's friendly.
"The evidence before the court satisfies that the first defendant [Williams] has failed to attend to his contractual responsibilities," Judge Robert Austin said at the hearing at which Williams was not represented.
"There is evidence he has entered into a contract with the second defendant [Toulon] ... and intends to play in a rugby match this evening."
The judge noted the jurisdictional difficulties in the case as Williams has said he intends to remain in France, but said the Bulldogs and the National Rugby League (NRL) had proven Williams could be successfully sued for damages in Australia if the player breaches the order.
"My conclusion is that the making of an interlocutory interim injunction will not be futile," the judge said.
The NRL has sought direct intervention from European rugby authorities - as well as the Australian justice system - to force Williams to return to the NRL.
The court heard that Williams was served with New South Wales court documents earlier this week, after they were thrown over a fence as he trained with Toulon.
But despite receiving the court documents, which were picked up and handed to him by a Toulon trainer, Williams was not represented at Friday's hearing.
Bulldogs Chief Executive Todd Greenberg warned Williams that the club would take the matter further if he breached the injunction against his playing.
"The Bulldogs will continue to stand up for what's right for the club and continue to stand up for the principle and sanctity of the contract," Greenberg told reporters after the hearing in Sydney.
The NRL's chief executive, David Gallop, hailed the injunction.
"It is a very serious matter for such an order to be granted and anyone who breaks an order of the NSW Supreme Court would face contempt proceedings from that court," Gallop said in a statement.
Gallop said the issue highlighted the importance of contracts in sport.
"There have been numerous attempts to distract the game from the fundamental issue, which is that a contract is a binding commitment on the part of both the player and the club," Gallop said.
"It protects both parties and places responsibilities on both parties.
"The issuing of a NSW Supreme Court order in respect of those responsibilities should provide a stark reminder to Sonny Bill of the importance of him observing the terms of his contract.
"It is a very serious matter for such an order to be granted and anyone who breaks an order of the NSW Supreme Court would face contempt proceedings from that court."
Williams was unrepentant about his sudden move, telling Australian television late Thursday he did it for more than the money and that the factors included a bust-up with Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes.
"I'm no coward, you know. I stood up for myself and I stood up for player rights," he told Nine Network.
"That's not a coward act, that's showing some balls to really stand up and show that we don't have to cop that, you know what I mean. We can get what we deserve.
"If some good comes out of what I've done, which I think it will, you know hopefully these players do start getting treated a bit better, not just like cattle."
Williams was, on Friday, named in an enlarged New Zealand squad for the Rugby League World Cup.
