SBW could be back in black this year

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Sonny Bill Williams could feature for the All Blacks on their end-of-year tour, with ITM Cup rugby for Counties used to get him match fit.

Sonny Bill Williams could feature for the All Blacks on their end-of-year tour, with ITM Cup rugby at Counties on the cards to get him match ready.

Williams, who is looking to secure back-to-back Grand Final wins for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, has inked a deal with New Zealand Rugby.

But if the Roosters do make the final, the centre would need Counties to be in the play-offs if he is to prove his fitness to the All Black selectors.

“All I know is if he wants to go on the end of year tour he'll have to play some time for us this year,” Counties coach Tana Umaga told Fairfax Media when asked whether Williams would be playing.

“We've been prepared for that. If he is feeling good and wants to go on the end of year tour after his time with the Roosters then I'm sure we'd have no qualms making time available for him to get on the field.

“It would be great for our community, fans and the guys who get to play alongside a well documented superstar. It will be based on how he's feeling and where his head is at after another long season. He's done it before with the Kiwis so it's not as if his body wouldn't be used to it. It's just whether he wants that or good preparation time leading into Super Rugby and a World Cup year.”

New Zealand are set to face the USA, England, Wales and Scotland in November.