August 12, 2008

SONNY Bill Williams will have to play Super 14 rugby in New Zealand - and inevitably face the music in Australia - if he wants to become an All Black.

On Monday, Kiwi rugby officials said Williams would not be eligible to play for New Zealand while at Toulon.

With only Kiwi-based players eligible to be All Blacks, Williams would have to play for a Kiwi team in Super rugby but then, in turn, tour Australia with his team in the regular competition.

If he keeps playing for Toulon and is found in contempt of court for ignoring the NSW Supreme Court injunction, Williams could face arrest when back on Australian soil - even years from now.

"The policy at the moment is that you have to play in the previous competition to the (All Blacks) team being named and by that we usually mean the Super 14 before the Tri-Nations or the Air New Zealand Cup before the November tour," NZRU boss Steve Tew said.