Sonny Bill mulls mega-money Wolfpack offer

All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams is reportedly weighing up a bold offer from Canada’s Toronto Wolfpack that would make him the highest paid player in both rugby league and rugby union.

Williams, 34, is expected to call time on his union career after the Rugby World Cup, which will end for the All Blacks on Friday with a third-place play-off against Wales. The Wolfpack, who won promotion to England’s Super League in October, is prepared to pay Williams $6.2m over two years, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. It said several rugby clubs were chasing his signature but could not match the Wolfpack’s offer.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said the bidding war was set to prove too rich for clubs in Australia’s National Rugby League, where Williams began his sporting career. The Wolfpack have made no secret of their desire to recruit one of rugby’s most recognisable players and have the funds to do it, thanks to mining-magnate owner David Argyle.

Australian-born Argyle said earlier in 2019 that Williams “is box office and puts bums on seats”. “He is rugby’s LeBron James and we see his recruitment as bigger than when David Beckham joined LA Galaxy,” he told Fox Sports Australia in

February. While based in Canada, the ocean-hopping Wolfpack compete in England and Argyle’s ambition is to give them a global profile.

Williams was noncommittal this week when asked about his future in the wake of New Zealand’s World Cup semifinal mauling at the hands of England.

“Soon bro, soon, we’re just trying to finalise that,” Williams told reporters.

Williams has won two World Cups in his 57 Tests with the All

Blacks, as well as numerous Bledisloe Cups and Rugby Championships. Other honours include a Super Rugby title and two National Rugby League premierships. He also triumphed in all seven of his professional heavyweight boxing bouts, winning the New Zealand title in 2012.

Williams suffered a string of injuries in 2019 and has hinted it could be his last season playing rugby union in New Zealand.

$6.2m over two years is the figure Wolfpack are reported to have offered Sonny Bill Williams