Sonny bill williams
Sonny Bill Williams 'to refuse to wear' Super League betting logo
The 34-year-old New Zealander, who switched codes for the second time following last year's rugby union World Cup in Japan, converted to Islam in 2009.
The Wolfpack confirmed on Thursday that they signed Sonny Bill Williams to a two-year contract for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
It would mark the fourth code switch in the career of the 34-year-old Williams, who has won the Rugby World Cup twice with the All Blacks as well as the 2004 National Rugby League Premiership with the Bulldogs.
The treble-chasing All Blacks suffered only their second loss in 17 games against the English, who also snapped New Zealand's remarkable 18-match unbeaten run in the competition, one which had dated back to 2007.
In-form Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue got the nod for the defending champions in midfield, with coach Steve Hansen saying it had been a tough proposition to sort out his centre combination.
Social media in New Zealand has been abuzz with reports that Williams was heading home, which would have been the second injury blow for the defending champions after losing flanker Luke Jacobson.
The axing of 108-Test stalwart Franks was the major surprise, although the defending champions also had no room for rampaging midfielder Ngani Laumape or rejuvenated flanker Liam Squire.
Williams is one of five centres vying for four spots in New Zealand's World Cup squad, along with Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue and Ryan Crotty, who is recovering from a broken thumb.
The video of the rugby player surprising his daughters has brought tears to many.
The 33-year-old suffered the injury while playing for the Auckland Blues against the Stormers on 30 March and has been scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on Friday.
The All Blacks said early Thursday that Sonny Bill Williams would start on the bench in Saturday's Rugby Championship fixture, but he was scratched from the squad just a few hours later.
The return to fitness of Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty comes at just the right time for the world champions after Ngani Laumape was ruled out for the next two to three weeks.
All Blacks inside centre Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out of this month’s test series against France and will undergo knee surgery, the team said on Friday.
All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams will be back in Super Rugby action for the Auckland Blues against the Wellington Hurricanes this weekend after missing six matches with a wrist fracture.
Williams had not played since 1 July after he was sent off in the second Lions Test for a dangerous shoulder charge on winger Anthony Watson.
The All Blacks centre was shown a red card for a dangerous shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson in the Lions second Test in Wellington last month and was suspended for four matches.
BIll Williams has been suspended for four weeks and will miss the third and deciding test against the British and Irish Lions.
The pair have become something of special projects for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams has been stripped of his boxing belts after failing to defend his title.