5 Aug 2008

Williams signs for Toulon

11:17 am on 5 August 2008

The French Rugby club Toulon says the former Bulldogs rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has signed for one season with the option of another.

Toulon's president Mourad Boudjellal says at the very least Williams be in the stadium for a friendly match this weekend, but better still he'll be on the team sheet.

The New Zealand international walked out on a five-year contract with the Australian National Rugby League club, his abrupt departure causing a big stir in both countries.

The Bulldogs and the NRL are trying to legally enforce the 22-year-old's contract and prevent a feared mass exodus of top players to wealthy European rugby clubs.

Boudjellal doesn't seem worried by the threat of legal action though and says Wlliams is very serene and very determined to get into rugby union.

But the former French star Serge Blanco says Williams shouldn't have broken his contract.