Fans want Israel playing league

THE fans have spoken – let Israel Folau back, playing rugby league for Tonga.

A groundswell of support emerged yesterday for Tonga to be granted approval allowing Folau to play Test matches against the Great Britain Lions on October 26 and Australia on November 2.

The Tongan National Rugby League has registered Folau, but the Rugby League International Federation board will determine his fate during a phone hook-up at 4pm today.

NRL officials are seeking to block Folau’s return after the dual international’s sacking by Rugby Australia for posting homophobic comments on his Instagram page in May.

RLIF deputy chairman Peter Beattie is expected to oppose Folau’s comeback, as is NRL boss Todd Greenberg, also a board member.

Tonga still hasn’t lodged an official application with the RLIF for Folau to play, despite Tongan officials issuing a media statement on Monday afternoon incorrectly stating his return had been formally sanctioned by the RLIF.

A Daily Telegraph poll that attracted nearly 3000 votes had a staggering 82 per cent of respondents in favour of Folau’s return to rugby league with Tonga.

“I tell you what it would do – bring a damn lot of interest to international rugby league and Tonga,” said former Australian hooker Ben Elias.

Former Wallaby and Balmain Tigers coach Alan Jones supported Folau’s return.

“He must be some sort of criminal,” Jones told his 2GB listeners. “I just thought he was Christian. My God, they go after him.”

Former Australian forward David Gillespie said: “Let him play. It would be great for international rugby league.”

— Dean Ritchie