Former All Blacks lock Ali Williams has extended his long-running career by signing with Philadelphia-based rugby team the Rough Riders.
The US National Rugby Football League said on Saturday (AEST) that Williams will captain the Rough Riders against the Leicester Tigers in the Independence Cup on August 8 at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
The NRFL is an organisation working to convert American football players to rugby and launch a professional league in the US.
The Guardian said Williams' recruitment by the NRFL came via former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd, who has been advising the project from New Zealand.
"Craig asked if I'd be willing to play, and I put my hand up and said: `Yeah, it'd be great to come and play a competitive game in the States and also to check out the lay of the land, so to speak'."
The 34-year-old Williams, who played 77 Tests for the All Blacks in a 10-year career, has just completed a two-year stint at Top 14 French club Toulon.
He was named man of the match last week in Toulon's Champions Cup 24-18 final win over French rivals Clermont at Twickenham.
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