Toulon cash carrot for Williams' freedom
Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:33
Newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon is hoping to use a cash carrot t secure the "freedom" of their controversial Rugby League recruit Sonny Bill Williams.
Toulon's equally controversial president, Mourad Boudjellal, said on Thursday that he hopes to reach a "financial settlement" with the New Zealand back row forward's former Rugby League club, the Canterbury Bulldogs, in Australia.
Williams' controversial move from the Bulldogs to join up with coach and compatriot Tana Umaga at Toulon brought about an Australian court ruling which said he was in breach of contract with the Rugby League club and could not legally join Toulon.
In fact the Bulldogs have threatened to have him charged with contempt of court and arrested, should he return to Australia, if he plays another game for Toulon.
He made his Rugby Union debut for the French club in a pre-season friendly last Friday - before the court papers could formally be served on him.
However, having now been served, he will be in contempt of court and faces arrest, while his Sydney assets could also be impounded by the courts, should he play for Toulon again.
"A financial settlement is going to be found at the beginning of next week," Boudjellal said on Thursday, while at the Toulon versus Toulouse match at the Mayol stadium.
Williams, who joined Toulon on August 4 on a one-season contract with an option for a further year, did not play in Toulouse's 19-12 victory so as not to "inflame the situation," Boudjellal added.
The Toulon president was referring to a New South Wales Supreme Court ruling which forbade Williams to play for his club.
The Australian Rugby League (NRL) and the Canterbury Bulldogs took legal action bringing about the court's decision that he had unilaterally broken his contract which was due to run till 2012.
Williams, whose dream is to play for the All Blacks Rugby Union team, caused media frenzy in Australia when he left his club for France.
AFP
