New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams to appeal Rugby Championship opener ban
Committee confirm suspension following red card against British & Irish Lions runs until the day after Australia meeting on August 19
Sonny Bill Williams has appealed against a ruling that would see him miss New Zealand’s Rugby Championship opener against Australia next month for the red card he received during the British & Irish Lions series.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen had hoped Williams could serve the ban by missing the third Lions test, the final match of the Auckland Blues’ Super Rugby season and two other games.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) proposed counting a pre-season match for his National Provincial Championship (NPC) side Counties Manukau, and an internal Counties trial or a “three-way” warm-up match played by the All Blacks against two NPC sides as the other two games.
A three-man judicial committee, Sydney lawyer Adam Casselden and former Wallabies David Croft and John Langford, however said the latter matches were insufficiently meaningful.
“Since the hearing on 2 July, the disciplinary committee has been receiving and reviewing additional submissions and evidence from the player’s side relating to his upcoming schedule of matches,” World Rugby said.
