9 Aug 2008

Williams makes rugby debut in Toulon

5:44 am on 9 August 2008

Sonny Bill Williams has defied a court order and made his rugby union debut in the south of France.

The runaway Bulldogs star was part of Toulon's run-on side in a pre-season friendly match against a second tier team, Carqueiranne-Hyeres.

Williams, 22, started the match on the left wing and got his first touch in the fifth minute of the game.

The ex-league player's arrival at the ground was kept secret beforehand so he could avoid being personally served with a New South Wales Supreme Court injunction banning him from playing for Toulon.

The court imposed the injunction on Friday and the Bulldogs were attempting to have it served on Williams before the match.