WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Code-hopping star Sonny Bill Williams has ruled out a return to rugby in New Zealand next season, though his future remains unclear.
New Zealand Rugby Union officials and representatives of the Chiefs team of Super Rugby met Williams and his manager Khoder Nasser in Sydney this week, increasing speculation he would return to rugby after a season in Australia's National Rugby League.
But Neil Sorenson, the New Zealand union's general manager of professional rugby, issued a statement Friday to say Williams would not play rugby in New Zealand in 2014.
It now seems more likely the 28-year-old will remain with the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the NRL title last weekend.
"We worked pretty hard to bring Sonny home, and we have had some really good conversations with him," Sorenson said. "This is disappointing but we know we put our best foot forward, and in the end Sonny has made his decision.