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Debate ignites online over Folau's next destination
Rugby fans around the world have weighed in with their opinion after it appears Rugby Australia have terminated Israel Folau’s contract.
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A statement was released saying: “In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.” This is after Rugby Australia were unable to contact the Wallaby following his controversial comments made yesterday about the LGBT community.
As expected, Twitter is awash with fans arguing for and against the decision to sack the fullback, and there are many impassioned supporters on either side of the fence. It is not hard to find the arguments that the fans are making following this decision on Twitter, however, one other topic is being raised by fans.
Many are expecting Folau to make a move to Europe following this, with some actually speculating that this may have been his plan all along. The 30-year-old signed a new four-year deal with the Waratahs and Australia in February, and people are saying that this is the only way that he could get out of his contract and make a lucrative move to Europe after he was warned about similar posts on social media last year.
Toulon are being touted as the main contenders to sign the maligned player, but Sale Sharks are also being seen as a possible destination, where he could receive a major increase in wages.
This is what the fans are saying:
When does he arrive in Toulon??
— Tim (@thealy38) April 11, 2019
Welcome to the Top 14 Israel 🙁
— The_Answer ?? ?? (@_Nemesis__) April 11, 2019
Not much of a punishment when you consider he will prob end up in France with a shed load of money
— George lenny (@georgelenny123) April 11, 2019
*ring ring. Ring ring* Hi it's Mourad…. pic.twitter.com/ROfu1FtpTy
— The Loosest Forward ????????????????? (@LoosestThe) April 11, 2019
One way ticket to France for him, probably not that bothered
— Robert Rees (@Rrreesrugby) April 11, 2019
He is about to sign a big contract in France, he did this with the intent to get fired so he could sign this contract
— Matthew Boyce (@hornbybrown) April 11, 2019
Money to be made in France @IzzyFolau contracts being terminated now for ridiculous stuff in rugby over the past couple of years…when did sport become so politicized?
— Jimmy Boots (@JimmyBoots_eir) April 11, 2019
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Absolutely the right move from Rugby Australia, a board for once not cowed by a player's profile and ability, but I worry Folau is just going to scoop up some of Mourad's millions in France next season. There should be no place for him to go. https://t.co/c7Y3vNRrXy
— Harry Latham-Coyle (@hlathamcoyle) April 11, 2019
I can hear Steve Diamond getting the Sale contract ready!
— McYewt (@YewtMC) April 11, 2019
Sale will be licking their lips
— Joe Bolton (@joebolton) April 11, 2019
Likewise, some are expecting a potential return to the NRL, and few expect him to be denied by all 16 teams. Folau has already had a successful career in rugby league, after two years with both the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos, and was part of the premier-winning Storm side in 2007.
BOOM! I'm starting to wonder if he wanted out and this was his plan all along?! Which NRL franchise do we reckon??
— Ricky Jones (@rickyjoneshere) April 11, 2019
All 16 NRL Clubs when they see that the ARU threatens to terminate Israel Folau's contract. pic.twitter.com/uSpJwFXvFV
— Brent Ford (@BrentFord26) April 11, 2019
French Rugby? NRL? Hmmm……… #IsraelFolau Did Folau use any ref to RA or any sponsor in his 'personal' tweet? Hmmm,I see a court case somewhere,soon.
— Helluva Badapple (@HelluvaBadapple) April 11, 2019
Folau will be unemployed for roughly 25 minutes, sadly – if someone in the NRL/AFL doesn't pick him up, a Boudjellal or a Lorenzetti won't have any qualms about his shit beliefs, no doubt…
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) April 11, 2019
Which NRL club will sign Israel Folau? Absolute cert to go back to League now.
— Rohanct (@RohanCT) April 11, 2019
Queensland, Japan or France for #Folau ?
— Sam (@samkelly99) April 11, 2019
If, as is being suggested, Folau did all this on purpose so he could get sacked and play In France, that's just despicable. And his punishment should be to see out his contract, then get kneecapped.
— Brendan Johnson (@the_red_heifer) April 11, 2019
While some are saying that this is a plan by Folau, that does seem hard to believe seeing as the World Cup is only months away. Not only had Folau just become Super Rugby’s highest try scorer in history, but he was one of the struggling Wallabies’ main hopes of success in Japan later this year. It would seem bizarre that he would intentionally walk out of his job at this point in time.
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However, what seems clear to many fans, is the ease in which he will be able to walk into a new job. On the pitch, no one can deny that he is one of the best players on the planet currently, and if a team are willing to accept the criticism that they may receive if they sign him, they will be getting a truly world class player.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments