Sonny Bill says no to Bay

IMS Payroll managing director Kevin Atkinson is disappointed that Hawke's Bay locals will not get to see Sonny Bill Williams play for the Magpies this season.

Mr Atkinson put together a lucrative package to support Hawke's Bay Union's late bid for Williams and had plans to use the star player as an IMS Payroll Ambassador.

“He would have done some promotional work for IMS while I was also keen for him to front some regional campaigns including Hawke's Bay's bid to secure a velodrome at the Regional Sports Park.

“It's a real pity that we could not lure him here. The offer was outstanding and the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union and IMS Payroll did all it could,” Mr Atkinson said.

IMS Payroll has been a major sponsor of Hawke's Bay Rugby for five years, a G9 provincial rugby sponsor and has a long established supporter of other provincial sports including sponsoring the Hawks basketball team.

Mr Atkinson is also a current Hawke's Bay Rugby Union board member.