David Long and Aaron Lawton report on Rugby Heaven that Sonny Bill Williams is still attracting silly money from France.
It is reported that the battle for Sonny Bill Williams has reached boiling point.
Watertight sources have revealed Toulon have ramped up negotiations with his manager, Khoder Nasser, and are believed to be prepared to offer $1.8 million a year.
Nasser refused to comment last night but is understood to be in a strong position to negotiate.
The consortium assembling a bid for a new NRL franchise in Brisbane from 2013 is also chasing Williams as well as Wallabies hot-shot five-eighth Quade Cooper.
Three major sponsors are already committed to the new league team.
The NZRU is desperate to retain the highly marketable Williams after the World Cup but will be unable to match the money Toulon’s Mourad Boudjellal is prepared to spend.
French rugby magazine Midi Olympique ran a profile on the star inside-centre last week and quoted Williams as saying: ”Toulon remains my preferred option [after the World Cup].” That line sent the French media into overdrive but Williams said later that his future was still undecided.
”I think that was taken out of context,” Williams said of the quote in Midi Olympique. ”At this stage I’m loving where I’m at, but what they’ve taken out of context is that I loved my time at Toulon.
”It’s definitely an option to go back there but I didn’t say that.
”I’ve already stated that I’m keeping all of my options open.”
Meanwhile, Williams said he did not have the best of games in the Crusaders’ 34-16 win over the Chiefs in Mt Maunganui on Friday night. ”It was one of those games where I struggled a bit,” he said. ”There was a lot of pressure on me and they rushed up but it opened space for other players.
”Obviously my hands let me down but it was just one of those games and the good thing about rugby is that you get seven days to turn it around.
”The Chiefs started off well and the score didn’t really show the pressure they put on us. But in saying that, it’s good to get five points after playing a game like that.”
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His hands let him down?
This guy got skills others only dream about 
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 1) :
Got him in your FL side yet
No Brainer !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 2) :
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 2) : So is Carter still out or will he be playing this weekend?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) :
I don’t officially know, but my guess is that he will be out and who knows for how long.
I saw Goggabies Traded Matt Berquist in for him in his FL Side in the last Round, will be interesting how many others follow this week, looks an inspired move at this stage !
Sick of him being better than me !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 5) : I wont do that. Only have a few trades left.
If only I can get 2 fit winning flyhalfs it’ll be great. Hopefully the Bulls will be winning a few when they get back home 
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 6) :
I think they will beat the Force this weekend !
That is just the quality of the Saders. You close down SBW and Fruean has a gap or Carter creates another.
No worries we’ll sort them in the final.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 7) : Hmmm, should get all my Bulls in my Starting XV then
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : A Crusaders v Sharks final will suit my FL pretty well
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 10) :
One sided Final !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 11) :
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 11) : I find it surprising that you woild write the Crusaders off that easily.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
I have gone on the record in the past calling finalist’s rubbish !
…. maybe not this time !
I hope he stays in NZ. Love watching him play. Don’t follow the French or european rugby at all.
@Ben (Comment 15) : I don’t know about that. Maybe if he sits out the games against the Sharks and the Bokke
@Viking (Comment 16) : Yes that would suit me fine. Let him play against all the other teams.
Sonny Bill must stay in New Zealand and he must play against all comers including the Sharks and Boks and his inclusion must cause those teams to up their games in making plans to neutralise him. Let him be their Jono Lomu, a catalyst that worked in galvanising many Bok teams that played against him.
What I really want to see though is SBW in a boxing ring with Flo Simba.
Also just heard that Racing Metro offered Carter an approx R45 mil deal for 3 years….
@Ice (Comment 19) : apparently..
@Ice (Comment 19) :
It was in the news weeks ago !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 21) :
There goes MY pshyco theory!
@Ice (Comment 22) : hehehe