SBW's recovery going well
Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams's Japanese club said on Friday he was believed to be recovering "smoothly" after undergoing surgery on an injury he sustained last week.
"We have not been told of any particular problem arising following the surgery," Panasonic Wild Knights spokesman Satoru Awaya said. "We understand his recovery has been progressing smoothly."
The 27-year-old part-time heavyweight boxer crunched his left shoulder attempting a tackle shortly after scoring a try in Panasonic's match against Kintetsu Liners in a Japanese rugby union league match last Saturday.
On Wednesday he underwent surgery in Sydney on the injured pectoral muscle and said on Twitter: "Just spoke to the doctor, operation went well."
But he has had to postpone his scheduled heavyweight boxing match with South African veteran Francois Botha in Brisbane on November 24. The fight's promoter has told South African media it might now take place in February.
Japan's Top League went into a five-week break after its eighth round last weekend. It will resume on December 1 and complete its 13-round season with the final play-offs set for late January.
"Williams is due to return here by the end of this month," Awaya told AFP. "We are making arrangements to have him start with a rehabilitation programme based on what he has worked out over there."
The former All Blacks centre quit the world champions New Zealand national team and the Chiefs in August to play 12 matches for Panasonic worth a reported US$1.2 million. He is expected to return to Australia's National Rugby League in the 2013 season.
