Sonny Bill Williams will have to wait a little longer to find out if he's free to play for the All Blacks later this month
An independent panel's reserved its decision into Williams' appeal against the decision to include the Test against the Wallabies on August the 19th, in his four week ban for a shoulder charge.
New Zealand Rugby made the case of a pre-season match for Counties Manukau against North Harbour and an inter-squad match on the 11th of August would complete the ban, making him eligible to return.
But the disciplinary committee ruled the inter-squad "game of three halves" match did not meet the grade as a proper match.
The committee was chaired by Mr Justice Graeme Mew of Canada along with Shao-Ing Wang (Singapore) and Stefan Terblanche (South Africa).
"The panel reserved judgement in the case. The decision will be made and communicated in due course," World Rugby said in a statement.
The 31-year old was the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off during the second Test 24-21 defeat to the British and Irish Lions last month for a shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson.
He missed the drawn third Test with the Lions, and the Blues' shock 48-21 loss against the Sunwolves In Tokyo.
Newshub.
