The New South Wales Supreme Court has approved a last-ditch effort from legal teams representing the National Rugby League and the Canterbury Bulldogs to prevent Sonny Bill Williams from playing his first match in France for the Toulon rugby club.
Following failed attempts last week to serve the runaway rugby league star directly, a judge has granted leave for lawyers to serve associates of Williams as substitutes.
The court will on Friday hear an application for an injunction against the New Zealand international's plan to play in France later that day.
The French club says Williams has signed with Toulon and will make his first appearance in a friendly match then, which would be in direct breach of his current contract with the Bulldogs.
