-
Sonny Bill Williams turns down world-record contract to stay in New Zealand
-
The centre has accepted a deal with the NZRU despite a huge offer on the table from an unnamed European club
-
Williams stated that it’s not always about money and he chose Auckland for family reasons.
By now you are sure to know that Sonny Bill Williams has rejected European advances in favour of a return to Super Rugby with the Auckland Blues.
The centre has accepted a deal with the NZRU despite a huge offer on the table from an unnamed European club. Williams has signed a lucrative three-year deal worth NZ$ 2.5 million. That comes in at around $800k a season [just over £384k].
Williams’ manager has told reporters his player rejected several offers from Europe. The highest salary offer the 30-year-old received was £2m over two seasons.
This would have been a world record salary [working out at $NZ 2 million a season] and was apparently offered by French giants Toulon.
Williams stated that it’s not always about money and he chose Auckland for family reasons.
“I’ve got a young family, got a little daughter, and hopefully we’ll have some more kids running around in the next few years.
“My wife doesn’t have any family here [New Zealand] and most of my family is in Auckland. Obviously I’m an Auckland kid so it’s pretty much home for me.”