Sonny Bill Williams cleared to play for New Zealand against Australia
Thursday 3 August 2017 16:37, UK
Sonny Bill Williams has been cleared to play in New Zealand's Rugby Championship opener against Australia.
Williams was banned for four matches after being sent off for a dangerous tackle on Anthony Watson during the second Test between the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions on July 1.
That suspension looked to have ruled the Blues centre out of New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney on August 19 after World Rugby initially ruled that the All Blacks' match against Counties Manukau and Taranaki on August 11 - which consists of two 40-minute halves against both teams - was not 'meaningful'.
However, Williams has successfully appealed that decision and can now play a full part in New Zealand's Rugby Championship campaign.
A World Rugby statement read: "A game being played by New Zealand against Counties Manukau and Taranaki on August 11 that had been excluded from the suspension by the original disciplinary committee has now been deemed to comply with the regulations' definition of a "match" and, as such, that match will be included as part of the player's suspension.
"Accordingly, Williams is suspended from all forms of rugby up to and including 11 August."
World Rugby said it was surprised by the decision of an independent panel to uphold Williams' appeal.
"While World Rugby respects the decision of the independent appeal committee to uphold the appeal by New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams against the matches that counted towards his four-week suspension, it is surprised by the committee's interpretation of the definition of "match" (which is defined in Regulation 1 as "a game in which two teams compete against each other").
"With the appeal process having been exhausted, World Rugby will refer the interpretation of the regulation to the Regulations Committee when it meets in September to examine the findings in the context of the game's regulations to ensure universal clarity and compliance with the meaning of the regulation moving forward."
New Zealand, who have won four of the last five Rugby Championships, begin their title defence with back-to-back Tests against the Wallabies.
