Rugby: Sonny Bill in trouble over ski trip

Injured Canterbury signing Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Simon Baker

Former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has been reprimanded by the Canterbury Rugby Union (CRFU) for an unauthorised ski trip.

The star signing, who has yet to play for Canterbury because of knee and hamstring niggles, donned a pair of skis on Mt Hutt last Saturday without getting clearance from his paymasters, a move also labelled as a "bad decision" by All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.

The trip took place on the day Canterbury played Tasman in a fourth-round national provincial championship match at Nelson.

"He needed to get clearance but he didn't do that," a CRFU spokesman told The Press, adding that the incident had been handled internally.

"He's been talked to and reminded of his responsibilities in terms of letting people know what he's doing.

"He's taken that on the chin and realised he's made a mistake in this instance."

Smith said Williams' actions shouldn't be construed that the 25-year-old lacks professionalism nor the desire to play for the All Blacks.

"(But) It's significant enough for people to be asking questions," Smith told Livesport radio.

"From my point of view, having met him a few times, I think he is serious, it's a fairly major decision to come out here and follow his dream.

"He's a young man and all young men make bad decisions at times. This is simply one of those."

Williams' injuries have left him with just 50 minutes of club rugby under his belt since shifting to Christchurch two months ago.

Smith said the former National Rugby League star still had a chance to push for a place in the season-ending All Blacks tour to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.

"Sonny's got to play well for Canterbury before he even gets close to an All Blacks environment," Smith said.

"It depends how well he goes. It's probably not the number (of games), it's the quality of them.

"He could go on and blow the competition wide open or he could take a while to settle in. That will be the relevant point I think. If he looks like he's to the manor born and going to be a very productive member of the team then we'll have a look at him."

After overcoming knee and hamstring niggles, Williams resumed full training this week but he won't play in Saturday's home match against Auckland.

He will instead play in the curtainraiser, for Canterbury Metro against Canterbury Country, it was confirmed today.

- NZPA