Folau has no regrets
WORLD CUP: NEW ANCESTRAL RULE WILL ALLOW HIM TO PLAY FOR TONGA
Controversial Israel Folau is “definitely interested” in playing for Tonga at next year’s Rugby World Cup and has “no regrets” over the homophobic comments that ended his Wallabies career.
The devoutly Christian fullback – part of the Wallabies team that lost the 2015 World Cup final to New Zealand at Twickenham – was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for saying that “hell awaits” gay people and others he considers sinners in a post on social media.
The dual-code international moved to Japan at the end of last year to resume his rugby union career after a brief return to rugby league, and he is hoping to take advantage of a new rule that allows him to represent the country of his parents’ birth.
The New South Wales-born 32-year-old is eligible to play for Tonga and he told AFP that it would be “special” to make the switch after being sounded out by head coach Toutai Kefu.
“Representing your heritage and where you’re from, representing your parents is something that is quite close to not only myself but to many other Polynesians,” said Folau, Super Rugby’s all-time top try-scorer.
“It would be a huge honour if I got the opportunity. We’ll see if that opportunity comes about but I’d love to put the Tongan jersey on and represent Tonga.”
Governing body World Rugby approved a landmark change to its international eligibility rules in November last year.
Players can now switch teams if they have not been selected for their national side for at least three years and have a parent or grandparent born in the country they wish to represent.
Folau meets that criteria, having won the last of his 73 caps for the Wallabies in 2018 before he was booted out for a “high-level breach” of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct.
He said he has now “moved forward from what’s happened in the past” and was enjoying playing again after joining Japanese club Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu on a two-year deal.
“I have no regrets about anything but it’s led me here to Japan and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Folau, who has scored eight tries in seven games for his new team, who are bottom of the first-division table.
“I’m just stoked to be playing rugby again. It’s a different experience to what I’m used to back in Australia but it’s something that I’m really enjoying.”
Folau’s anti-gay post can still be seen on his Instagram account and has been liked almost 75 000 times.
Next year’s World Cup in France could give him the chance to end his career on a high if Tonga qualify.
Now Folau says he is just keen to block out the “outside noise” and “can’t be sitting there worrying about what people think” of him. –