SBW Set to Return to New Zealand Rugby

Sonny Bill Williams may be back in New Zealand rugby sooner than expected.

The New Zealand Rugby Union is understood to have tabled a three-year contract to Sonny Bill Williams with a return possibly as soon as the 2014 Super Rugby. However, the union is thought to be willing to defer his return till 2015 if SBW wished.

Of course, this will all come down to what SBW's manager, the much maligned Khoder Nasser, decides is best for SBW. Nasser after all was behind SBW's return to rugby league on a big money contract with the Sydney Roosters this season where SBW has played a big role in guiding the side to their first minor Premiership in over 10 years.

SBW as a Crusader, Twickenham, 2011

SBW has proven himself in the All Blacks jersey as well as in ITM Cup and Super Rugby, having reached three Finals with Canterbury, the Crusaders and Chiefs, and winning two titles, so any return will be treated with little if any trepidation and plenty of anticipation. And even if SBW does wait till 2015, there should be no concern - after all, SBW's first Super Rugby season was in the same year the All Blacks played in - and won - the Rugby World Cup.

SBW at the 2011 Rugby World Cup

The question is, where will SBW go this time? The Chiefs will probably be his destination - he was spooked out by Christchurch after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 so the Crusaders are probably out - although the Blues and working with John Kirwan, Graham Henry and Benji Marshall as well as being based in Auckland might very well appeal.

Teammates at the Blues?

So New Zealand rugby could very find itself with two of the NRL's biggest stars of recent times - and there could be more, with the Olympics in 2016 in the horizon and the likes of Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke possibly mooted for a role in the New Zealand rugby sevens team.

Watch this space.