Dual international Sonny Bill Williams has accepted a cross-code commentary role with Stan and Nine’s Wide of Sports in a major coup for rugby’s new broadcasters.
Following the announcement of Michael Cheika and David Campese as commentators last month,Stan secured the services of the two-time World Cup-winning All Black and New Zealand rugby league international.
Sonny Bill Williams is set to come on board as a rugby league and rugby union commentator. Credit:Stan
Williams has been linked with a commentary role for some time now and is set to make his first official television appearance next Tuesday evening on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven program.
As big a name as they come in both the rugby union and rugby league worlds, Williams will switch between codes throughout the year, having announced his retirement from professional football this week following a remarkable career.
Williams, 35, is keen to continue his professional boxing career but will enter the lounge rooms of Australian households as he dissects both the 13- and 15-player games.
“I’m honoured to have this opportunity to join the Stan Sport team,” Williams said. “Before I decided to step into this space I just asked myself that simple question: ‘is it going to be challenging?’ And the answer was an overwhelming ‘yes’.
“I know I represent a lot of young Polynesian boys and young Kiwi boys. We represent so much on the field but when it comes to off the field, we’re not really in this space.
“Just being able to jump into that space and see how we go, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
Williams won two premierships in the NRL – with the Bulldogs in 2004 and Roosters in 2013 – but it was in rugby that Williams became an international star.
