League: SBW 'boycotts' Anzac test

Sonny Bill Williams will be out of the country on holiday from this Saturday.

Sonny Bill Williams is to boycott the Anzac league test on Friday week, although the Kiwis say he was never under consideration.

The Sydney Roosters second-rower is reportedly still angry at being implicated in a sleeping pill and energy drink scandal on last year's World Cup tour in England.

Williams will be out of the country on holiday from this Saturday, a day before the Kiwi team is named to face the Kangaroos in Sydney, and players go into camp.

It was reported after the tour that Williams and his room-mate, Manly first-five Kieran Foran, had been identified in an internal investigation.

They were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the NZRL.

Previously, the NRL has insisted players apply for an exemption to be ruled out of representative football.

As there is no club football on the weekend of the test, Williams will be free to play again the following weekend.

NZRL chief executive Phil Holden refused to comment on SBW's withdrawal yesterday, but Kiwis selector Richie Barnett told the Herald Williams was not being considered and that "boycott" was an interesting term.

"We're selecting with a view to the years ahead," Barnett said.

"He's not on that list."

It would have been his final test match in the Kiwi jersey before switching to rugby union.

- additional reporting Dylan Cleaver