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One of rugby's favourite pastimes has just restarted - speculating where SBW will play next

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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The time in NRL of former All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has come to an end with the Friday night defeat for the Sydney Roosters, allowing the rugby world to start one of its favourite pastimes again – speculating over the New Zealander’s future.

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Williams’ Roosters fell to a semi-final loss to the Canberra Raiders on Friday in a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, dashing his side’s hopes of winning their third straight title. 

The dual-code superstar played his first game of a short-term deal with the Roosters in September, in what was his second stint with the club after winning the NRL with them in 2013. 

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Izzy Dagg plays golf with Kieran Read

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Izzy Dagg plays golf with Kieran Read

With no great clarity over the 35-year-old’s future, speculation has already started to emerge online over his next destination in either code. 

After the All Blacks crashed out of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Williams moved back to league for his third spell, joining Super League’s newly promoted Toronto Wolfpack in a bumper $10million, two-year deal. But their inability to compete in Super League following the coronavirus break meant he parted ways with the Canadian club. 

Williams was coy in his post-match interview on Friday, not ruling out the possibility of returning to Toronto. But for a player that has made his frequent cross-code switches one of the defining features of his career, pandemonium is likely to ensue among the union ranks over a potential return. 

Covid-19 has already caused a strange twist to many players’ careers. Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read is one who has made a return to Mitre 10 Cup rugby with Counties Manukau after it seemingly looked like he would end his career in Japan with Toyota Verblitz. 

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Williams is also a player that has not been afraid to make shock moves throughout his glittering career, so the possibilities are more or less endless as to what his next step could be – anything could happen. 

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PMcD 18 minutes ago
Wobbling champions Bath suffer new low under Johann van Graan

You will be glad to know they signed Bhatti to replace Van Wyk and they already have Will Stuart to come back, with Sela & Griffin as understudy players, so I think you will find they continue spending up to the limit and not much has changed at the Rec. It’s all part of the managing the demographics of the salary cap within the squad.

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PMcD 21 minutes ago
Wobbling champions Bath suffer new low under Johann van Graan

They had a few days off at the start of last week, so hardly trained, which showed in the performance. I think it’s a bit premature to be calling it a loss of form.

4 Go to comments
u
unknown 34 minutes ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

I think he’d be a great 11 tbf. Then you have a back three of Jorgenson, Wright and Suaalii, with Ikitau being able to play on his natural position of 13

13 Go to comments
S
SP 45 minutes ago
The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places

Mack Hansen wasn't wrong about the media, the doommongers were writing off Farrell and his squad, when actually IRFU player policy post the Lions meant our best players had no club rugby in their legs at the start of the 6N, and funnily enough got better with every game they played after getting hammered by a French side that were match sharp by contrast…

11 Go to comments
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Eric Elwood 48 minutes ago
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Glasgow had three matches to go in the Champions League “all being well” before the Goliath of the North was downed by “underdogs” Toulon.



...

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C
Chris929 1 hour ago
'A really exciting option': WRU file PWR expression of interest

We are already seeing evidence the future of the red roses looks less good with the u20 and u18 losing regularly now-not just to france who thrashed us at u18 and u20 level(and have done past few years) but also to the celtic teams.There is no guarantee senior level red roses success will continue indefinitely. We need more playing opportunities for young english players in the PWR-expanding to more english teams like Bath and Newcastle,which should be the priority, would help with that. Yet the RFU in its wisdom seems keen to bring in a welsh team,an irish team and a scottish team- something that would only benefit our rivals not us. They would become defacto national teams playing in the PWR and would only help them grow and develop. We already helping most teams with their squads playing in PWR. But including teams from other countries would be taking it to another level. Focus on english expansion first-bath,newcastle -maybe a team in yorkshire or cornwall

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
'South Africans just hate the Irish': McCloskey on growing 'beef' with Boks

There always are.

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
'South Africans just hate the Irish': McCloskey on growing 'beef' with Boks

It’s mostly flames fanned on the fans behalf, to be fair.

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
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That’s true too

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TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Agree on Wright, it will be hard to overlook him if he plays at the same level than last year !

Indeed, if Lonergan is not in the team - which I think is probably the best option if they plan to start Carter Gordon - they will definitely need a goalkicker.



...

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BC1812 2 hours ago
'A really exciting option': WRU file PWR expression of interest

It’s all very well for the RFU to finance and develop overseas players in English teams, though I think it need so be scaled back, but enabling international Home Nations teams to play week in, week out is several steps too far and will be to the detriment of the Red Roses.

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SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Wright for sure if he can replicate his 2025 test form. Harvey looks like a great prospect though and his goal kicking could be something very valuable to the team, especially with Carter Gordon is in the team and Ryan Lonergan is not.

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TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

And who would pick at 15 ? Tom Wright ? Harvey ?

13 Go to comments
T
TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Due to the League’s influence in our opinion ? Too young to recall that sadly…

Aren’t Paisami and Flook leaving Australia this summer ? Crichton could be the solution to a lot of their problems indeed.



...

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SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Him and Marky Mark on the wings at the World Cup, aerial kicks galore. Not sure where that leaves Jorgensen though.

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unknown 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

JAS plays at 13 because the Wallabies already have loads of high quality back three players and basically only two other top quality centres (ikitau and Parisian) one of whom is abroad currently and one of whom is heading to Japan (I’ve heard) - so that’s the area of key lack of depth

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NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Aussie have always had a surfeit of good back three players, more so than centres, even in their best years around 2000-2003… I recall them trying to shoehorn Elton Flatley into 12 for the 2001 Lions series.

They have Paisami, Ikitua and Flook wto work with now, and poss Angus Crichton in future. So I’d ships to 14 or 15 now, with a view to a JAS-Marky-Jordo backfield for the RWC, and poss Lomax in the mix too.



...

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NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Let’s hope so. Hunter Paisami is having a good season at 12 for the Reds, Len Ikitau is top drawer and Josh Flook at a very smart 13, so there is some material to work with there…

13 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

They might start him at 14 and then move him to FB once he gets the hang of the backfield pendulum….

13 Go to comments
S
Stephen11 3 hours ago
Scotland v France | Talking points as France set up Grand Slam decider with England

I agree, which is why I find it strange that they only refer to part of her heritage. Her mom is also half Cook islander so why not mention that as well?

4 Go to comments
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