Sonny Bill Williams

Australia will meet Fiji, Italy and Scotland in Group B, while New Zealand were drawn against Ireland, Jamaica and Lebanon in Group C and Tonga play Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Wales in Group D.

In the women’s tournament, New Zealand were drawn in the same pool as Australia in a massive boost for the likes of England and PNG.

However, most interest in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace centred on which team Prince Harry picked as England's opponents in the opening match on 23 October, 2021. The match will be played at St James' Park in Newcastle.

Williams has returned to league for potentially the final chapter of his illustrious sporting career and his two-year contract with the Canadian league club makes him the richest player in either rugby code, worth a reported $10 million.

The 34-year-old played his 58th and final All Blacks test in the Rugby World Cup last November and he has linked up with the Wolfpack at their Manchester base ahead of their debut season in the UK's Super League.

Cooper said he wants to swap codes and give the 13-man game "a fair crack" with Williams, a good friend of his, at the Toronto Wolfpack before the pair retire.

"I want to play with Sonny before we both retire. But I wouldn't mind playing NRL either, just for one season or even just come and do some training with the lads to see what it is like," Cooper said on the Ice Project podcast.

"If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I am happy with what I have been able to achieve, but if the opportunity arose I would love to do it."

Having finished his All Blacks career without a third World Cup winners medal, SBW joined new UK Super League outfit the Toronto Wolfpack on a big-money two-year deal.

Ahead of the 2020 season, Williams and his family flew to the Gold Coast, so the 34-year-old can prepare his body for league.

He says he's confident he'll get back into the swing of things quickly.

"When it comes to skill and knowing the game, I grew up playing it so that will be no different," he said. "It's probably just the physical demands I'll have to tap into this month."

The former All Black has made his first official appearance as a Toronto Wolfpack player in London at a packed media conference at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, as he prepares to embark on his new sporting adventure.

Williams has signed a two-year contract worth $10 million to become the face of North America's first professional rugby league team ahead of their English Super League debut.

The signing of the 34-year-old is the biggest in Super League history, and 70,000 people agreed when they attempted to access the club's website once the announcement was made.

Wolfpack owner and Canadian-based Australian mining and resources entrepreneur David Argyle is one of the masterminds behind the signing, and hinted there could be at least two more big names to join the roster in 2020.

Speaking on Sky Sports Radio this morning, Argyle said Williams' star power has already made an impact on Wolfpack sponsors and memberships.

The 34-year-old, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner with New Zealand, has switched codes again having signed a contract reportedly worth 9million Canadian dollars that will make him the highest-paid rugby league player in the world.

Williams, who featured for the All Blacks in their run to the World Cup semi-finals last month, began his professional career in the NRL with Canterbury Bulldogs.

After winning a Premiership with the Bulldogs, he switched to union to play for Top 14 club Toulon but returned to the NRL in 2013, winning a second title with Sydney Roosters.

Toronto, who were promoted last month, are close to confirming the signing of Williams on a lucrative two-year contract.

The Daily Telegraph revealed that Brian McDermott, Toronto's head coach, watched the 34-year-old play for the All Blacks in their World Cup semi-final defeat by England in Yokohama, in which Tuilagi played.

They later held face-to-face talks and, as reported by The Telegraph on Saturday, Williams has been offered a deal that includes a minority stake in the Canadian club.

Wolfpack coach Brian McDermott is understood to have flown to Japan to meet with Williams, who is reportedly set to be offered a $9 million, two-year deal to finish his playing career in Canada.

The newly promoted Super League club has also been linked to NFL hopeful Christian Wade, a former England rugby union winger who is on the Buffalo Bills practice squad, but believe Williams could have a similar impact for the code in North America to David Beckham signing for LA Galaxy.

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the 34-year-old, who came off the bench in Saturday’s World Cup semifinal defeat to England, has been offered the two-year deal to play for the Toronto Wolfpack in Europe’s Super League.

The Canadian franchise is funded by Australian mining billionaire David Argyle and will make its debut in the Super League next year after winning promotion by beating Featherstone Rovers in the second division final.