Sonny Bill Williams sports his new jersey for Blues against Hurricanes

The latest version of the most-talked about item of clothing in New Zealand this week got its first airing on Saturday night.

Sonny Bill Williams sported his newly-designed Blues jersey at Auckland's Eden Park tonight in his side's Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes.

The jersey was adorned with the Plunket logo stitched on to both sides of the collar.

New Zealand Rugby and the Blues this week to Williams' request to have advertising from BNZ and Investec removed from his jersey.

Williams raised eyebrows last week when he taped over the BNZ logo on the collar of his Blues jersey.

"I want to be clear that this is nothing personal against the BNZ or Investec,” Williams said in a statement.

"My objection to wearing clothing that markets banks, alcohol and gambling companies is central to my religious beliefs and it is important to me to have been granted this exemption.

NZR and the Blues accommodated the superstar's wishes on the basis of Williams' conscientious objection to the category of sponsorship, "which can only be lodged on the basis of genuine family, ethical or religious grounds and consent to excuse the player from an activity is not to be unreasonably withheld", a statement from NZR and the Blues said.

 

Photo By: PHOTOSPORT (Sonny Bill Williams sports his new-look jersey for the Blues in their Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes at Auckland's Eden Park).