RLIF denies Folau free to play for Tonga
SYDNEY: Tonga’s claim controversial star Israel Folau has been cleared to make a sensational rugby league return and play for the international side has been shot down by the international governing body.
The Tongan National Rugby League dropped a bombshell on Monday, releasing a statement on its Facebook page that Folau and his brother John would feature in their endofyear tests against Great Britain and Australia.
Folau and new Tonga coach Frank Endacott even claimed in the statement the Rugby League International Federation had given the green light to a comeback.
But the RLIF has dismissed the TNRL’s post, saying it had not been formally asked to consider dual international Folau’s return.
‘‘The Rugby League International Federation is aware of a media release issued by Tonga National Rugby League stating that Israel Folau has been ‘approved’ by the RLIF to represent Tonga in international matches,’’ it said.
‘‘That statement is incorrect. The RLIF has not been formally asked to consider this matter.
‘‘The RLIF will not be commenting further on this situation at this stage.’’
RLIF deputy chairman and ARLC chairman Peter Beattie had earlier cast doubt over Folau’s return, saying the move had not been mentioned by the international body.
‘‘The RLIF has made no decision in relation to any registration request for Israel Folau,’’ he said on Monday night.
Beattie had previously shut the door on an attempt by Folau to return to the NRL.
It ensures Folau cannot play for Tonga in next month’s World Cup Nines which is run by the NRL.
Beattie and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg — who is also on the international body’s board — are set to stand in the way of Folau playing for Tonga in this year’s tests if the RLIF put his return to a vote.
Beattie said in June the former Brisbane and Melbourne NRL star Folau would not be welcomed back to league due to his controversial social media posts that landed him in hot water with Rugby Australia.
Folau’s lucrative contract with Rugby Australia was controversially terminated four months ago for breaching its code of conduct.
Folau (30) was deemed guilty of breaching the code over his social media posts which claimed homosexuals are going to hell.
However, it seems Folau is now attempting a comeback via Tonga, claiming in the Facebook statement that he had been cleared to play Great Britain in Hamilton on October 26 and the Kangaroos in Auckland on November 2.
‘‘I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to represent God, my family, my heritage and the people of Tonga,’’ Folau said.
The Folau situation adds another twist to the controversy already swirling around Tongan rugby league. The TNRL is in the midst of a bitter dispute between its board and several NRL stars, led by Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita.
More than a dozen players have threatened to boycott the tests unless TNRL chairman George Koloamatangi and secretary Williams Edwards stand down after coach Kristian Woolf was sacked. — AAP