Sonny Bill Williams?

**gunrunner** · 15th August 2008, 15:09

Unless you have been on the moon for the last month Sonny Bill Williams was headhunted by Tana and has walked out on the Bulldogs with 4 years remaining on his contract to sign with French club side Toulon . With him not honouring his contract off to court the Dogs and the NRL went . SBW apparently was issued with papers to prevent him from playing rugby and also any other club bar the Bulldogs , even going as far as saying they would seize his assets and have him arrested . The truth being an NRL contract has no duristiction any where but australia and that he hasnt even been issued with anything legal papers or otherwise . Sure he did wrong walking out on his contract but at the end of it can they really force a player to play for a club that he doesnt want to .
After all there is another (ex kiwi player ) that has been dropped to NSWRL ranks so that he cant fulfill his contract on amount of 1st grade games so he can get an extension with his club - so they can release him next year . This player has just announced he to will be haeding to France to play rugby .

So will Sonny Bill end up playing for the ABs in the world cup ?

**enigma51** · 15th August 2008, 15:11

Its rugby (or league) who gives a shit?????

Now if it was a case of valentino doing that to yamaha ........ different story!

**jrandom** · 15th August 2008, 15:13

It's a contract. He's failed to fulfill it, by his own choice. That means that the injured party (his club in Oz) can go to court, and the court will order SBW to remedy the problem.

If he doesn't, the court can take his property and sell it to cover damages to the Oz club.

If SBW has no assets in Australia, he may escape the consequences of his breach of contract, so long as he stays out of the country. (Off the top of my head, I have no idea whether international extradition treaties apply to such matters.)

One way or the other, it reflects very badly on SBW's character.

**avgas** · 15th August 2008, 15:17

while i would usually go down the whole "its a contract" thing - i do see his point a bit, signing a contract for 4 years is pretty dumb.

**gunrunner** · 15th August 2008, 15:21

Originally Posted by jrandom

It's a contract. He's failed to fulfill it, by his own choice. That means that the injured party (his club in Oz) can go to court, and the court will order SBW to remedy the problem.

If he doesn't, the court can take his property and sell it to cover damages to the Oz club.

If SBW has no assets in Australia, he may escape the consequences of his breach of contract, so long as he stays out of the country. (Off the top of my head, I have no idea whether international extradition treaties apply to such matters.)

One way or the other, it reflects very badly on SBW's character.

I agree with that , he even remorged his property before he went , in the end they will seek financal compension and with he is now getting paid he will still come out on top - not to mention he hasnt signed with NZRU yet .

**imdying** · 15th August 2008, 15:35

Originally Posted by avgas

while i would usually go down the whole "its a contract" thing - i do see his point a bit, signing a contract for 4 years is pretty dumb.

Well he is a thugby player... he wasn't exactly hired on his intelligence now was he

**firefighter** · 15th August 2008, 16:06

I think he's a little shit (in his case a very very big shit) he should have honoured his contract or at least talked to his club about it first, I totally understand the money reasons, and in his place I would probably be a very big shit too, but I would have tried to come to an agreement with the bulldogs first.

**Flatcap** · 15th August 2008, 18:28

I work with commercial contracts

I deal with guys like this all the time

I hope the litigators bankrupt him

**Big Dave** · 15th August 2008, 18:41

I think he'll be fairly and honourably treated by the French.

**Tank** · 15th August 2008, 18:45

League is generally played by people that arnt too smart.

To think he can just walk out of a contract is bloody stupid. Hes running a big chance of having a huge career reduced to nothing. Its happened to bigger stars than him plenty of times on other codes.

I bet the NRL fuck him as much as they can - they have to set an example to other players.

Serves him right for being an asshole.

**Flatcap** · 15th August 2008, 18:46

Originally Posted by Tank

Serves him right for being an asshole.

Arse, that is

**Skyryder** · 15th August 2008, 19:42

Originally Posted by Jez

So what do you guys think of his decision to split from the canterbury Bulldogs for a club in france?

fact: Bulldogs contract was for $450,000/year until 2012

rumour: offered $1,500,000/year until 2010 to play for Toulon in France

Personally I cant blame him for doing it, I met Orene Ai'i on a flight back from Japan a couple years ago and asked him why he chose to play in Japan rather than push for the AB's ... money ... he cant play rugby all his life and needs to be in a good position financially when he play the game anymore. Cause once thats over the clubs/unions dont do anything for you. The way SBW went about it though is a little rude to his fans however.

They don't like him in Ozz now. Still he's a kiwi and any kiwi who kicks the shit out of an Ozzie...............all right in my books unless they play for Robbies Team that is...........or are a biker.(phew)

Bottom line he's in it for the money and any professional sportsman who claim other wise need a dose of truth serum.

Skyryder

**gunrunner** · 16th August 2008, 12:36

It seems Sonny Bill has come to terms to pay the Dogs 750k for compensation on walking out on his contract . Seems like deal of century to me . 750k so he can make 10 mill