Sonny Bill Williams is committed to the All Blacks and wants a third World Cup title

THE rumours about Sonny Bill Williams returning to the Roosters have been shot down by the man himself who wants to taste more World Cup success in Japan.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks breaks away from the tackle of Sean McMahon of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at ANZ Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

SONNY Bill Williams has revealed that he is “unwavering” to his rugby contract and the major reason is his tight bond with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

Williams was bewildered to hear reports he was about to rejoin the Sydney Roosters in the NRL this year, despite being contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2019.

After winning unprecedented back-to-back rugby World Cups in 2015, Hansen urged Williams to sign a four-year deal to ensure the dual-code star could be part of a campaign to win three in a row in Japan next year.

Williams knocked back far more lucrative overseas deals to chase that dream and put pen to paper, and there is no chance of him turning his back on that.

THOR: One of rugby’s great talents reborn

CHEIKA: Quade wants to prove people wrong

Sonny Bill Williams wants to go to the World Cup in Japan.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in the wake of the Roosters beat-up, Williams made it clear that a return to the NRL was not remotely in his plans over the next two years.

“Signing the four-year deal with New Zealand rugby was easy and very straight forward, and a massive factor in that is the respect and trust that I have in Steve Hansen,” Williams said.

“I’ve never felt the sense of belonging that I do in the All Blacks’ environment under Steve and Ian Foster, so my choice was clear and my commitment is unwavering.

“God willing, I am on my way to the next World Cup and I will give the jersey everything I have.”

Williams is seeking to become one of only four men in history to win three successive World Cups, alongside teammates Kieran Read, Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks.

Rumours swirled that Sonny Bill Williams would return to the Roosters but he has put paid to those. Pic Brett Costello

Only Williams and Whitelock played in every game of the previous two World Cups, won in 2011 against France (8-7) and 2015 against Australia (34-17).

His relationship with Hansen has developed over eight years in his time at the All Blacks, when the latter was first assistant coach and then took over from Sir Graham Henry following the 2011 victory.

Reports this week suggested Williams was leaving rugby to join the Roosters because he’d been told he was no longer in the All Blacks’ World Cup plans.

That only drew laughs from Williams, who is in the All Blacks’ leadership group and when available has been picked to start in every major Test match by Hansen for the past three years.

While Williams maintains a very close friendship with Roosters chairman Nick Politis, he has not contemplated any code switch since the last World Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams with his mentor Steve Hansen.

When Williams sensationally quit the Bulldogs in 2008, he was legally forced to pay the club $850,000 and sign an agreement that he would not play for a rival NRL team for five years.

Politis became a backer and friend of Williams at that time, and Williams gave a handshake agreement then that once the ban was up, he’d sign for the Roosters for two years. Williams moved to French rugby powerhouse Toulon, before New Zealand came calling, and he pursued and reached his dream of becoming an All Black in 2010.

He went on to win the World Cup the following year, but told Hansen of his agreement with Politis. The trio remained silent in public, but Hansen trusted Williams that once his two-year tenure was up in the NRL, he would return to New Zealand rugby in 2015, in time for the next World Cup.

Williams conceded before he signed with the Roosters that he ideally would have stayed in union had it not been for his agreement with Politis, but then proceeded to lead the Roosters to a premiership win in 2013.

Sonny Bill Williams says he still has more toa chieve with the All Blacks.

Throughout that period, Hansen praised Williams as a man of integrity and revealed that the superstar had been upfront from the start.

After Williams returned to rugby in 2015, many questioned whether he deserved to step straight back into an All Blacks squad dubbed by many as the greatest team of all time.

But Hansen not only picked Williams as a reserve in every game, but to the shock of observers, unleashed him from the bench at half-time of the final against the Wallabies at Twickenham despite the Kiwis fielding the record-breaking duo of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.

The All Blacks romped home to become the first team in history to clinch successive World Cups.

Not long after, Hansen told a 30-year-old Williams he wanted him as part of the 2019 campaign.

Driven to create history, Williams didn’t hesitate to say yes, despite millions of dollars being thrown at him from overseas clubs. When a four-year contract offer was delivered to Williams shortly after, it was signed, sealed and delivered immediately.

Just four months ago, Williams was panned by critics as he transitioned his game to suit the changing All Blacks’ style, with many saying he’d lost his attacking edge. “He is in the leadership group, he is leading well and has a major influence on the young guys with his training habits,” Hansen said.

“He has always been a player who has been loved by you blokes (in the media) or hated by you blokes. It is a 50-50 split. When he does things wrong all the haters get on top of it, and when he does things right all the good guys get on top of it.”

Originally published as Sonny Bill Williams is committed to the All Blacks and wants a third World Cup title