Sonny Bill Williams has withdrawn from the Baa-Baas and is replaced by Richard Kahui.

Drew Mitchel is injured again and expected to miss the opening Rounds of Super Rugby.

Conrad Smith is named as Hurricanes Captain for 2012.

Derick Hougaard could be back at the Bulls.

Bolla Conradie, Elgar Watts & Clemen Lewis, all from Boland, as well as Burton Francis are included in Stormers plans for 2012.

Graham Henry rules out England coaching job.

Sonny Bill Williams:

All Blacks and Chiefs inside center, Sonny Bill Williams, has been forced to withdraw from the Barbarians match against Australia at Twickenham due to injury. He has been forced to pull out of the match due to a hamstring injury and has been replaced by another All Black, Richard Kahui.

The Barbarians will be coached by retired All Black coach Graham Henry and the 22-man squad has players from 10 countries with an astonishing 1000-plus Test caps.

The latest additions include Italy’s Mauro Bergomasco (88 caps), Salvatore Perugini (83) and Marco Bortolami (88), France’s Sylvain Marconnet (84), Scotland’s Jason White (77) and Ireland’s Peter Stringer (98). They join a squad already boasting Springbok lock Victor Matfield (110) who, two years ago who led the Barbarians to victory over the All Blacks. Further additions are Fiji’s Seru Rabeni and Nemia Kenatale.

Barbarians squad:

Sam Tomkins (England RL), Bryan Habana (South Africa), Isaia Toeava (New Zealand), Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), Stirling Mortlock (Australia), Richard Kahui (New Zealand), Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Danny Cipriani (England), Peter Stringer (Ireland), Nemia Kenatale (Fiji), Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), Adriaan Strauss (South Africa), Salvatore Perugini (Italy), Sylvain Marconnet (France), Eusebio Guinazu (Argentina), Victor Matfield (South Africa), Simon Shaw (England), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Jason White (Scotland), Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), Adam Thomson (New Zealand), Mauro Bergamasco (Italy).

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Drew Mitchell:

Wallabies and Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell is in doubt for the opening rounds of Super Rugby after his injury curse struck again. He will spend the next 12 weeks in rehabilitation after there was a recurrence of the ankle injury that ended his 2011 season.

Mitchell went in for a simple post-op clean-out last week but it turned into ligament surgery that has resulted in him returning to crutches.

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Conrad Smith:

Conrad Smith will captain the Hurricanes in the 2012 Super Rugby season. The All Black centre is preferred to his fellow Rugby World Cup winning No 8 Victor Vito, who filled the role late in the 2011 season.

The anouncement brings an end to the speculation that started when hooker Andrew Hore was told he was not wanted last season.

“Conrad is hugely excited about the role,” Hammett said.

Conrad Smith has 55 All Black caps to his name and has been with the Hurricanes for eight seasons and was captain briefly in 2007 when skipper Rodney So’oialo was withdrawn for the World Cup.

Hammett is believed to have regained confidence in Smith during the Rugby World Cup when Smith was thrust into a big leadership role in a backline that had lost senior men Dan Carter and Mils Muliaina.

The Hurricanes will play three warm-up matches in preparation of Super Rugby 2012 – against the Blues in the first week of February followed by matches against the Crusaders, in Mangatainoka and lastly the Chiefs.

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Derick Hougaard:

Former Springbok and Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard might be on his way back to the Bulls, if reports are accurate. On the weekend the Rapport newspaper reported that the 28-year-old Hougaard – currently recovering after an Achilles operation – was in Pretoria last week where he was in discussions with Bulls coach Frans Ludeke and senior professional coach Heyneke Meyer about a possible move back to Loftus Versfeld.

Hougaard is currently envolved with English club side, Saracens, but according to Rapport he could fly back to Pretoria in the next couple of weeks to complete his rehabilitation with the Bulls instead. He is expected to be fit in January.

Attempts earlier this year to get Hougaard back failed, but this time round the chances of a return to Loftus looks all the more likely.

Hougaard said he would love to come back to South Africa.

“I’m enjoying it at Saracens and appreciate everything being done there for me, but I don’t think it’s a secret that I want to come back to South Africa and try to play for the Springboks again.”

“I also can’t really see myself with any other South African team than the Bulls.”

“I realise things have changed (Morne Steyn is now the Bulls’ and the Boks’ No 1 flyhalf), but I am very eager to throw my weight in with them,” said Hougaard.

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Bolla, Elgar & Clemen:

Former Springbok and Stormers scrumhalf Bolla Conradie has been included in their plans ahead of next year’s Super Rugby competition.

The Stormers started their preparations for next year’s competition on Monday.

Other players from Boland also in the Stormers plans include hooker Clemen Lewis and flyhalf Elgar Watts. All three Boland players mentioned played vital roles in helping Boland claim the Currie Cup First Division title this year.

Elgar Watts will only be available in February seeing as he is scheduled to undergo a shoulder operation. He will realistically only be ready for the Stormers’ last pre-season game against the Eastern Province Kings on 11 February.

Add to this the fact that Burton Francis joined the Stormers in practice on Monday as well, apparently relieved from his duties at the Lions and also in line to bolster Stormers flyhalf ranks.

The Stormers will start their pre-season matches in late January with clashes against the Lions and the Sharks at home in the Neo Africa Tri-Series, which will be followed by two friendly encounters against the EP Kings and Boland.

Stormers’ pre-season programme:
Stormers v Lions, 27 January, Newlands (Neo Africa Tri-Series)
Stormers v Sharks, 4 February, Newlands (Neo Africa Tri-Series)
EP Kings v Stormers, 11 February, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Boland v Stormers, Boland Stadium, Wellington (Date to be confirmed)

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Graham Henry:

New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry ruled himself out of the running on Monday to replace departed Martin Johnson at England.

“It’s not a reality,” the 65-year-old Henry said.

“I live in New Zealand but I would like to try to get an association with a (European) club and make a difference,” he added.

The former Wales coach said he would like to spend some time in Europe but, with the World Cup fresh in the memory, it was too early to make any decision.

“Over the next six months I will come to some conclusions,” he added.

Henry resigned from the All Blacks this month after eight years in charge but remains under contract to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) until March and has been touted for a mentoring role with them.