Sonny Bill may need masking tape again

JUST before the 2017 Lions tour Sonny Bill Williams refused to wear an Auckland Blues jersey with a Bank of New Zealand logo on it, because his version of the Islamic faith forbids banks charging interest on loans.

The Blues accepted Williams’ right to ‘conscientious objection’ and allowed him to put tape over the logo.

This week Williams was involved in a much bigger money story, when it was announced that the 34-year-old veteran is joining the Toronto Wolfpack, the new boys in Super League, on a £5m deal over two years.

It is a huge amount to pay for a player in the twilight of his career, but his new Wolfpack bosses were banking on Williams being no stranger to self-promotion – and they were not disappointed.

It did not take him long to endear himself to the Rugby League cause by throwing out the line that he got over New Zealand’s World Cup semi-final defeat by England, “about five to ten minutes after”.

His rationale: “In my journey in life I have been through a lot tougher situations than losing a bloody game of football.”

It is unlikely those sentiments will endear him to All Black supporters, and his teammates might also raise an eyebrow given the World Cup is the culmination of four years of blood, sweat and tears.

It will also be interesting to see how he deals with the sponsorship requirements of his new Canadian team. One of their sponsors is the Northern Maverick Brewing Co., a Toronto craft brewery.

As a devout Muslim, Williams is a teetotaller – so the tape could be coming out again if the brewery has any naming rights on his new club’s playing kit.