Rugby: Sonny Bill snubs court hearing

Sonny Bill Williams has snubbed court proceedings against him, just hours before he is scheduled to play his first match in France.

A small army of barristers representing the Bulldogs rugby league club and the NRL have massed today at the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney to argue for an injunction to prevent the runaway rugby league star playing rugby union in France.

But no lawyer for Williams was at the court.

It is the third no-show by Williams or his legal representatives in the past two weeks, after he left the Bulldogs for a more lucrative contract with the Toulon club.

Justice Robert Austin granted leave in a brief hearing this morning for the Bulldogs and the NRL to argue for the injunction in the absence of Williams.

If they are successful, Williams will be in contempt of court if he proceeds to play in a friendly match for Toulon, which begins early Saturday morning Sydney time.

The NSW Supreme Court will reconvene at 11am (AEST) to hear the plaintiff's arguments for the injunction.

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