Sonny Bill Williams returns to the boxing ring

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has announced that he will return to boxing and take on Bachelorette TV series winner Stu Laundy in an exhibition fight after his end-of-year tour in December.

"I think he’s just going to get off the plane and do it," said All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.

"It’s the sort of athlete he is.

"We've got guys boxing all the time, as part of their training. Again, my understanding of the fight is that it's more of an exhibition fight I think than a godown and knock yourself out fight.

"You're probably better off having a good yarn to him about it because he'll be able to fill you in on all the details. But I don't have any problem with him doing it."

The pair will fight on December 1 in a charity event called 'Banger in the Hanger' to fundraise for youth homelessness and the Auckland City Mission.

Williams has had seven fights in his fledgling boxing career and won all seven.