Williams payout settles dispute

Williams' defection to union has caused outcry in Australia

Former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams has reached a settlement with Canterbury Bulldogs after he walked out on the club in order to switch codes.

Earlier this month, Williams moved to French union side Toulon without warning, just one year after signing a five-year deal with the Bulldogs.

The NRL side had initiated legal action against their former player.

Reports in the Australian media suggest Williams has paid about £350,000 to the Bulldogs in settlement.

Williams has also been banned from playing in Australia's NRL until 2013 at the earliest, severely limiting his options if his move to union does not work out.

But the 23-year-old - who has signed a one-year deal at Toulon, with the option of another year - had already said he had no intention of playing rugby league again.

Neither the Bulldogs nor Sonny Bill have anything to gain by drawing this situation out any further Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg

"We remain bitterly disappointed at the manner in which Sonny Bill deserted his team-mates and his supporters," said Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg.

"We have, however, reached the point where we need to get on with business and we have withdrawn the injunction against him playing for any other club."

Williams ignored a court injunction which prevented him playing for another club, making his union debut in a friendly against Carque-Hyeres on 8 August.

"Neither the Bulldogs nor Sonny Bill have anything to gain by drawing this situation out any further," added Greenberg.

"With this matter resolved we now look to finishing off our final few games of the season as strongly as possible."

Williams defended his controversial decision as financial "common sense" and complained that the NRL clubs treat players "like cattle".

The case caused major outcry in Australia amid fears that the sport's top stars could be lost with European union clubs able to offer more money.