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All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams will return to the NRL in 2013 after a stint playing Japanese club rugby.
The 26-year-old dual international told reporters in Hamilton on Monday he would play rugby league in 2013 but refused to elaborate on who he will be playing for.
Williams, who is believed to be joining Sydney Roosters next year, says he had a "handshake agreement" in place for the 2013 NRL season but nothing had been signed.
He will join the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan later this year and will not return to New Zealand rugby after his five-month stint is over.
Japan's Top League season begins on August 31, running until the end of January, and it has been estimated he will earn as much as $1.7 million for his time in Japan.
The timing of the Japanese season will allow Williams to make a return to rugby league in 2013.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he was hopeful Williams would again play Test rugby for New Zealand and NZRU chief executive Steve Tew noted that he had not ruled out a return in the future.
Hansen said that while Williams has only been in New Zealand rugby for two seasons his contribution had been immense.
"He came to New Zealand rugby two years ago as a convert player and was similar to Brad Thorn in that regard," Hansen said in a press release.
"Sonny had high level slills and freakish abilities without a fully developed game.
"This season we have seen the birth of Sonny as a rugby player with his game understanding complementing his array of skills.
"His performance in the Test series against Ireland showed that he was world class.
"It is a shame and disappointing that New Zealand Rugby is losing him.
"In talking to him I know the decision has been a tough one but we fully respect why he hs made this decision.
"He is an outstanding athlete who has stamped his mark on the game and hopefully this is not the last time we see him in New Zealand Rugby."
Hansen also praised Williams's manager Khoder Nasser for the way negotiations had been handled.
"Khoder has been nothing but straight up in his dealings with myself and the NZRU and kept us informed right from day one," he said.
"We may not always have agreed but we appreciated his honesty and his transparency."
Will you be happy to see Sonny Bill come back to the NRL? Have your say now.
Williams controversially walked out on his NRL team Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2008, just 18 months into a five-year deal to join French rugby club Toulon.
He was part of last year's Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks team, and showed commanding form in the three-Test series against Ireland last month.
Williams, who is nearing the end of a one-year deal with Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs, is also expected to continue his professional boxing career.
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