Folau to debut for Dragons

Israel Folau will make his Super League debut for Catalans Dragons against Castleford in Perpignan tomorrow.

The 30-year-old former Wallabies and Waratahs fullback or winger has not played since being sacked by Rugby Australia last May for posting homophobic comments on social media and it is 10 years since his last rugby league game.

But Folau was named in coach Steve Mcnamara’s 21-man squad 48 hours ahead of the match and the French club confirmed he will play.

Folau, who has signed a 12-month contract with the Dragons, has had two weeks of training and Mcnamara said this week “he looks in really good shape”.

He replaces Brayden Wiliame – who returned to the NRL – and has his old number four squad number.

His presence at the Stade Gilbert Brutus will heighten interest in the fixture after Folau’s signing was fiercely opposed by both Super League and the Rugby Football League as well as the majority of clubs.

Folau’s inclusion came as no surprise to Castleford coach Daryl Powell, who says it will take time for the dual-code international to readjust.

“He’s a good player, an outstanding player, it will be interesting to see how he fits back in,” said Powell.

While Castleford are looking to make it three wins out of three at the start of the season, the pressure is on Mcnamara’s men to break their duck and Powell says he has plans to deal with Folau.

“We’re not specifically putting him under pressure but we have looked at him and how him coming in will impact them,” Powell added.

“We’ve got to try and make him rusty. We’ve watched a lot of footage of him and we’re aware of that right foot step, which is really dominant.

“Our plans aren’t going to change too much; we think we know the way he’s going to play.”

Israel Folau: “Looks in really good shape”.