Sonny Bill Williams quits All Blacks

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams announced he will quit the world champion New Zealand team to play in Japan, then return to his old stomping ground, Australian rugby league.

Williams, 26, who was part of New Zealand's triumphant Rugby World Cup squad last year, said he would play 10 matches with Japanese side Panasonic before switching to an unspecified National Rugby League (NRL) team in Australia.

The move back to the NRL will take the 1.91 metre, 110 kilogram Williams back to his roots -- he played league in the NRL for four years before switching to rugby union in 2008.

The Auckland-born inside centre, known for his powerful running and tackling, thanked the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) for allowing him to "realise a dream" by playing for the All Blacks.

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"This is due to a handshake agreement made a few years ago before I even came back to New Zealand with an NRL club," Williams told a media conference in Hamilton.

"I haven't signed anything yet and I'm not in a position to elaborate on that (which NRL club he had agreed to join)."

"I didn't think I would have loved it as much as I have back here. To be honest I kind of felt like I'd found my place at the Chiefs ... but it just goes back to (the fact) I've given someone my word and I've had to go on with it even though it was tough."

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) coaxed Williams home from Europe in 2010 and he made the All Blacks after a superb domestic championship with Canterbury.

He played one season with the Canterbury-based Crusaders in the southern hemisphere Super Rugby competition last year before crossing to the Waikato Chiefs this season.

The inside centre had been one of the form players of Super Rugby and had excelled in the All Blacks' test victories against Ireland last month.

"It is a shame and disappointing that New Zealand rugby is losing him," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said in a statement.

"In talking to him, I know the decision has been a tough one but we fully respect why he has made this decision. He is an outstanding athlete who has stamped his mark on the game and hopefully this is not the last time we see him in New Zealand rugby."


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