New Zealand

No Sonny Bill for Counties this year

ESPN Staff

Williams won't return to rugby through the ITM Cup © Getty Images Enlarge

Sonny Bill Williams will not make his return to rugby through Counties Manukau according to Counties coach Tana Umaga. Umaga ruled out any chance of his return playing for the Steelers this year after New Zealand Rugby stated Williams would not have to play a game for the Steelers to be eligible to make the All Blacks' en of year tour.

Currently finishing off a two-year stint in the NRL for the Roosters, Williams' league career came close to an early finish with the Roosters scraping through the semi-finals with a one-point win over the Cowboys in Sydney on Friday night.

Despite NZR stating Williams would not need to play for the Steelers to become eligible, CEO Steve Tew said recently he believed Williams could play in Pukekohe this year, "It is still expected he will play ITM Cup rugby, but that is dependent on how the Roosters do in the NRL," Tew said a few weeks ago.

However, Umaga said Williams had no chance of playing for the Steelers this year and that he'll take a break before returning to the All Blacks camp.

"He isn't signed with us until next year and the All Blacks have already come out and said that he doesn't have to play in the ITM Cup," Umaga told Sunday News. "He's already had a long season, he would probably look forward to a bit of rest and go into an All Blacks campaign, where if he wants to learn the game there's no better place."

Although the side has fallen to their fourth consecutive loss and have several fly-half injury problems, there is no desperate need to rush Williams into the Counties side with Rey Lee-Lo and Bundee Aki providing a quality midfield.

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