Face mask-clad Sonny Bill Williams touches down in Australia with his four children to be put into two-week luxury hotel quarantine ahead of highly anticipated return to the NRL
- Sonny Bill Williams has arrived in Sydney with his family ahead of his NRL return
- The dual-code international will join the Roosters for the remainder of the year
- He was contracted to the Toronto Wolfpack but COVID-19 disrupted their season
- Williams and his family will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine
A tired-eyed Sonny Bill Williams has touched down in Sydney with his model wife Alana Raffie and their four children, ahead of his shock return to the NRL.
The New Zealand duel-code international who turns 35 next week, will link up with the Sydney Rooster for a second stint with the club in one of the sport’s most anticipated comebacks.
But first the rugby league, rugby union and boxing star will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine with his family.
Pictured: Sonny Bill Williams arrives at Sydney Airport in Sydney on Thursday
The tired-eyed dual-code international is pictured with two of his young children after setting off from Manchester
William’s model wife Alana Raffie is pictured pointing to the camera after the long flight
Pictured: Raffie her child wave to the camera as the family all wear protective face masks
After leaving the All Blacks in 2019, the two-time World Cup winner was snapped up for the 2020 season on a lucrative deal to play rugby league for the Toronto Wolfpack in the English Super League.
The second-rower was paid $10million for two years but after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the season, the Canadian team was forced to pull out of the competition.
Following an injury crisis at the Bondi club which has seen seven players unavailable, including captain Boyd Cordner, the reigning premiers offered a lifeline to the two-time grand final winner.
The NRL had to order a legal exemption for the un-contracted player to join the competition, which has divided some fans.
Williams is pictured pushing his luggage trolley as his daughter sits on top of the pile
Although most high-profile sports stars would normally be whisked away upon their arrival to the airport into a private vehicle, Williams and his loved ones boarded a bus with other passengers on their way to hotel quarantine
William’s jet-lagged family had originally set off from Manchester before taking a short stopover in Doha in Qatar
Williams will link up with the Sydney Roosters for a second stint in one of the sport’s most anticipated comebacks
Although most high-profile sports stars would normally be whisked away upon their arrival to the airport into a private vehicle, Williams and his loved ones boarded a bus with other passengers on their way to hotel quarantine.
His jet-lagged family had originally set off from Manchester before a short stop over in Doha, Qatar.
The Roosters have organised a luxury three-bedroom suite for the family at the Meriton Sydney Tower on Pitt Street.
The penthouse has been fully equipped with a home gym and coach Trent Robinson said Williams will undergo training sessions via Zoom video links.
The Roosters have organised a luxury three-bedroom suite at the Meriton Sydney Tower on Pitt Street for his hotel quarantine
The penthouse has been fully equipped with a home gym and Roosters coach Trent Robinson said Williams (pictured with his family) will undergo training sessions via Zoom video links
‘Our staff are ready to take him through our programs,’ Robinson told the Daily Telegraph.
‘We’re coaching him while he’s in there. Stretching, conditioning, weights, footy … the lot. We’ll send him some video from training and our games.
‘Our philosophy hasn’t changed but our game has evolved. He knows what we’re doing and has been watching most of our games.’
Williams (pictured) led the Roosters to a premiership in 2013 and made the 2014 preliminary final in his most recent game with the side
Williams (pictured with his child) is expected to play his first match at the end of August in round 16 or 17 of the shortened 20-round competition
Williams is expected to play his first match at the end of August in round 16 or 17 of the shortened 20-round competition.
‘The other boys will have been in the competition for 14 or 15 weeks,’ Williams said. ‘That’s the great challenge for me.’
Williams led the Roosters to a premiership in 2013 and in made the 2014 preliminary final in his most recent game with the team.
The Roosters are currently in fourth place on the ladder and are expected to breeze into the finals series on the hunt for their third consecutive NRL premiership.
Williams (pictured in blue headgear) remains undefeated after seven heavyweight boxing matches
Williams (pictured) was signed to the Toronto Wolfpack for $10million over two years