Rugby-Barbarians bring in Williams to play Australia

SYDNEY, March 2 (Reuters) - Former New Zealand rugby league international Sonny Bill Williams has agreed to play rugby union for the Barbarians against Australia in June.

Williams, who turned his back on rugby league last year to join French club Toulon, is the first of a series of high-profile players expected to represent the Barbarians in their first match on Australian soil.

"I'm sure many people will look forward to seeing how his career in rugby has developed when he arrives with a Barbarians team that will be world-class," Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss John O'Neill said in a statement on Monday.

Australia have often finished their European tours with matches against the Barbarians but have struck a deal to host them in Sydney on June 6 as a warm-up for their international season.

"The forthcoming visit by our club to Sydney to play the Wallabies is a ground-breaking venture on our part," Barbarians president Micky Steele-Bodger said.

"In keeping with our traditions, we will be bringing with us a team that reflects the cosmopolitan nature of our club." (Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Martin Petty)