Sonny Bill Williams has returned to rugby league by signing a two-year deal with Super League newcomers Toronto Wolfpack.
The 34-year-old, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner with New Zealand, has switched codes again having signed a reported two-year, $10 million AUD contract that will make him the highest-paid rugby league player in the history of the code.
Williams, who featured for the All Blacks in their run to the World Cup semi-finals last month, began his professional career in the NRL with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
After winning a premiership with the Bulldogs, he controversially switched to rugby union to play for Top 14 club Toulon but returned to the NRL in 2013, winning a second NRL title with the Sydney Roosters.
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It has been five years since Williams played league and his signing is a coup for a Toronto side that will spend next season in Super League having won promotion in just their third campaign.
Welcome to Toronto @SonnyBWilliams :flag-ca: pic.twitter.com/dFY1N9Ac2U
— Toronto Wolfpack (@TOwolfpack) November 7, 2019
Williams, a two-time World Cup-winner with the All Blacks with 58 caps to his name, is ready to play a big role for ambitious Toronto on and off the field.
"Toronto Wolfpack is a club that represents Toronto which is a very multicultural city," Williams said.
"The club has big ambitions and big goals. I want to be part of all this and do all I can to help reach those lofty goals.
"On the field I'd like to bring high quality play and do all I can for the betterment of the team. Off the field I'd like to use my experience to mentor the young players and be helpful where I am needed.
"Super league will be a new challenge and one I'm looking forward to. It will be a new experience and one I'm ready to embrace."