Sonny Bill ruled out of Rugby Championship opener

Rugby Union - New Zealand All Blacks v British and Irish Lions - Lions Tour - Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand - July 1, 2017 New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams reacts after being shown the red card. REUTERS/David Gray

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Sonny Bill Williams will miss New Zealand's Rugby Championship opener against Australia next month after World Rugby clarified his four-game ban for a red card in the British and Irish Lions series.

The All Blacks centre was sent off for a dangerous shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson in the second test in Wellington earlier this month and suspended for four matches.