23 Dec 2008

League defector could line up against Wallabies

9:46 am on 23 December 2008

The former Canterbury Bulldogs league star Sonny Bill Williams is set for a dramatic return to Australia next year, playing for the Barbarians against the Wallabies in the same week as league's showpiece event, State of Origin's opening game.

The Melbourne Age says Williams, Mark Gasnier and Craig Gower, all former NRL stars now playing rugby in France, will be invited to play in the ground-breaking match at the Sydney Football Stadium on June the 6th to kick off next year's international rugby programme.

23 year old Williams, who secretly left Australia last year when still under contract to the Bulldogs, was to have played for the Barbarians against the Wallabies at Wembley three weeks ago, but he was unavailable because of a leg injury.