Sonny Williams delighted by All Blacks call-up

NEW Zealand are expected to use the autumn tour of the UK and Ireland to firm up their World Cup squad which means that the Murrayfield crowd could witness the emergence into international rugby of new League recruit Sonny Bill Williams.

The 25-year-old may be known more on this side of the world for a series of alcohol-fuelled indiscretions and controversial big-money transfer to French club Toulon than anything he has actually done in a rugby union jersey, but in just six weeks back in New Zealand he has persuaded Graham Henry that he was worthy of a place in the squad to face England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in November.

Part Samoan and born in Auckland, Williams followed his father into the 13-a-side code, turning out for Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL) at just 18 and making his international debut for New Zealand the following year.

At 6ft 4in and over 17 stones, Williams is a powerful runner, but also a player with sublime all-round skills and there are few awards in the NRL he has not collected and a few million dollars in contracts he has.

Toulon had to pay a reputed 300,000 transfer fee to the Bulldogs and were so impressed that they were rumoured to have offered him a deal worth close to 1 million per year to stay until 2013.

However, he returned to New Zealand in the summer to play at inside centre beside Dan Carter at Canterbury.

Though his first headlines surrounded successful boxing bouts and a forbidden skiing trip, "SBW" made his debut six weeks ago, and after his fourth try in four games at the weekend was named in his first All Blacks squad.

"I've had a lot of ups and downs," he said yesterday, "but at the moment this is the biggest up I have had.

"It's unreal. When I first went to rugby (union] I probably had a lot of self-doubts, thinking I didn't know if I could make it or not.

"It's all turned out really good and I'm really happy and just trying to soak it up at the moment.

"Coming back I didn't know if I could make it or not, but the amount of support I have got from the public, not just in Canterbury but in places like Whangarei and Southland, with little kids coming up to me knowing my name and being really supportive, has really helped my self-confidence and me as a person to grow.

"I just want to put that jersey on because once I put that black jersey on I'll be ready to rumble."