[furrycat];4555019 said:
He'll be in breach if he does sign, and it would be up to the Bulldogs to allow him to play for any other NRL club before 2013. That is in the conditions of his release and its legally binding.
And put it simply, I don't see Greenberg letting him off to return and play for any other club. SBW made his bed, he has to lie in... Greenberg and the Dogs gain nothing by letting him return and play against them.
he breached a whole volume of agreements/contracts whenhe walked but the dogs quickly forgot about all of that paltry detail when $$$'s were mentioned. If he should decide to return, i can see no shortage of clubs willing to spend a bit of cash to 'bend' the rules...
anyways...
Reports that former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga's coaching position at French rugby club Toulon is under threat are well off the mark, his agent said today.
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper led its sports section with reports that Umaga is close to being replaced by former Wallabies coach John Connolly.
Connolly was understood to be heading to France this week for a meeting with Toulon's big-spending owner Mourad Boudjellal, thereby heightening speculation over Umaga's role.
However, Boudjellal told the Herald: "There is no problem with Umaga."
And Umaga's New Zealand-based agent, Glenda Hughes, said that reports Umaga's position was under threat were wrong.
"He coached them today, he'll be coaching them tomorrow," she said.
Hughes said Umaga had flown to New Zealand last week for family reasons, but returned to France two days ago to continue his coaching duties.
"His only comment to me, and he was joking, was that he knew the day he signed the contract that it would come to an end. And every coach knows that," Hughes said.
Umaga signed a two-year deal as general manager of then second division Toulon in May last year after playing seven games for the Mediterranean port side in 2006.
Toulon are currently seventh in the French Top-14 competition after two wins, two losses and a draw, with Boudjellal reportedly not too happy with the club's performance to date in the top division.
Boudjellal said Toulon had the team to finish between eighth and 10th in the Top-14.
"Above that will be thanks to the coaches, below it will be their fault."
Umaga played an important role in the signing of Toulon's controversial rugby league recruit, New Zealand-born Sonny Bill Williams, who is said to be unhappy as he languishes on the sidelines with a leg injury.
The Bulldogs released Williams from his five-year National Rugby League contract this year after negotiating a financial settlement, believed to be about $A750,000 ($NZ934,000).
Williams had been under contract with the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2012 season but walked out on the club with seven games remaining in the current campaign.
A lonely and homesick Williams is reportedly contemplating a return to Australia and the rugby league career he abandoned to play at Toulon.
Williams joined Toulon in early August on a one-season contract with an option for a further year.
The Daily Telegraph reported today that Bulldogs officials said he would have to return "on bended knee" and "under the club's terms and conditions".
It is understood a member of Williams' camp has spoken to a Bulldogs official and Williams' manager, Khoder Nasser, is travelling to France to check on the welfare of his client.
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg yesterday said that he had heard the rumours "and I'm not surprised".
"Sonny Bill made his choice a couple of months ago. The club has moved on since then. It's common knowledge he can't play in the NRL with any other club than us prior to 2013."
-NZPA
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4704138a1823.html
