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Japan Rugby League One

Israel Folau named for rugby union return after extended absence

Israel Folau (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Over 1,000 days since Israel Folau last played a professional match of rugby union, the former Wallabies fullback will make his return to the field on Saturday in the opening round of Japan’s new competition, League One.

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Folau’s contract was infamously terminated with Rugby Australia after the 32-year-old posted what many considered homophobic remarks on social media. After just six weeks of Super Rugby action for the 2019 season, Folau found himself without a contract and subsequently ended up playing for French rugby league side Catalans Dragons.

The former NRL star intended to return to the competition where he first made a name for himself but found his recruitment blocked and subsequently signed for the Shining Arcs ahead of the 2022 League One season.

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A rugby player’s Christmas

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A rugby player’s Christmas

With the competition – a replacement for the Top League – kicking off this weekend, Folau has been named to start in the No 15 jersey for the Shining Arcs as they line up to take on heavyweights Kobe Steelers.

Folau won’t be the only new recruit amongst the Shining Arcs’ midsts, however, with champion Blues flyhalf Otere Black also named for his maiden appearance. Liam Gill will also run out in the No 8 jersey, having shifted to the club last season.

Former Scotland halfback Greg Laidlaw is also on the books but won’t feature against the Eagles – who bested the Shining Arcs in last year’s playoffs, scoring an emphatic 43-13 win.

Rob Penney’s Shining Arcs finished fourth in last year’s Red Conference, before eventually succumbing to the Eagles in the Round of 16, and will be looking to set an early marker this season after the key recruitments of Folau and Black.

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Shining Arcs: Israel Folau, Kai Ishii, Shane Gates (c), Tone Tukufuka, Kazushi Hano, Otere Black, Atsushi Yumoto, Liam Gill, Shokei Kin, James Moore, Jimmy Tupou, Shingo Nakajima, Shotaro Hirai, Miura Rin, Anoku Shota. Reserves: Ryushi Fujimura, Ken Saito, Shuhei Takeuchi, Sam Jeffries, Alex MacKenzie, Ryo Tsuruda, Taji Hongo, Brackin Henry.

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Comments

3 Comments
L
Luke 1219 days ago

The moment they think he will finish but his living God work in mystery.

R
Richard 1221 days ago

Folau is still a tool and as unliked as Novak Djokovic

i
isaac 1221 days ago

For those that thought it was a homophobic verse from the Bible really hasn't read the same verse...if they would have read the whole verse, it also referred to adulterers, thieves, those that plan evil and other..it really didnt just talk about homosexuals

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
Joseph Herman 20 minutes ago
Les affiches des quarts de finale de Champions Cup

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T
Tommy B. 49 minutes ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Yeah, about that.

He brought on a promising chap called Courtenay Lawes off the bench to replace him if memory serves.

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N
NB 57 minutes ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He ain’t that slow, and when he gets hold of you, you don’t get off the hook!

14 Go to comments
N
NB 57 minutes ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Even the ex-props cannot be certain in real time! We ran a few experiments….


For pens, stick to flagrant and dangerous play like collapses, otherwise make the feeding side use the ball.

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N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I told him that before he took over and he didn’t believe he couldn’t find a 7 in the Prem! How long did Harrison last in that Test v Aussie? 30 minutes or so!

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I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

Indeed. As grimly predictable as ‘morning glory.’

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N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Cards are not accidents, they are the result of pressure exerted. The ABs could not handle that pressure, and something [more than one thing] broke.


If you take away the GKing, I would take at least four other FBs ahead of Ramos right now. Even Buros from UBB is better.

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N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

They’ll rest whoever they see fit in the final analysis.

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yeah, joking aside it should be blown by specialists. Or at the very least get all test ref’s up to speed by speaking to a few ex-props.


I think it should be a separate 30 second scrum clock. Don’t stop the game clock.

30 seconds to set, engage, throw it in and get it out. No re-sets. One shot.


You don’t want props to feel left out and you don’t want it to go the way of rugby league, scrums are no longer useful if they can’t be ref’d properly.

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P
PB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hee hee, yeah he is the heaviest lock around, but honestly the best is an absolute stretch. RG Snyman isn’t alot lighter and offers way more athleticism. There are actually quite a few powerful locks that offer more than the slower than treacle Skelton, hence why he never really makes much impact vs the top tier test teams

14 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

It won’t make any diff to the number of Toulouse players withdrawn from the tour of NZ though.

192 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

😲🤣

192 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

I would suggest something more radical. We don’t want tech pens for perceived indiscretions and we don’t want reset scrums taking any time [at all] off the game clock.


I’d prefer the scrum to be under rather than over-reffed as you’re suggesting - mostly by ppl who don’t really know what’s happening. If there is doubt, let the scrum play out!

14 Go to comments
T
Tommy B. 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I was thinking exactly that as I put the list together.


In fact, it’s more recent than 2012. I remember Eddie lamenting the ‘Six and a halves’ he had going into the 2016 England tour of Oz. He went with Robshaw and Haskell, and then Temaina Harrison at ‘7’ in the last test because Haskell was injured.

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Has Ramos surpassed Will Jordan? You mean now that Ramos has reverted back to 15, a position Will Jordan is still growing into at test level? Ramos was covering 10 last year while N’tmack was still out.


Wasn’t that the same dream team that had Lomax in it, lol?!


Based on recent form. A storming 6N and an undefeated Nov series. I’m still not seeing an argument for a better current backline than Ramos, Penaud, LBB.

192 Go to comments
t
tf 1 hour ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

Perhaps he's been on borrowed time but he didnt pick himself. And there have still been some remarkable performances.


And even now nobody is sure who'll take his spot in the 23. Especially with Conan if not over the hill, beyond the top.

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N
NB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Good one😅

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I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I watched the (warm-up) game were the Boks led 14-0 on the back of a try created by one up runners and an intercept. AB’s had a player in the bin during this time.


Then around 39 mins it’s a red card. In the second half they score 3 lineout maul tries exposing the player advantage. Two in the corner and Kwagga splitting off the back to go close to the posts.


Ramos? Who’s a better test level 15 at the moment? Do Bielle-Biarrey’s 8 TRIES in this years 6N merely count as great?

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

We could always discuss your team, Edward?


Do you even have one? Too afraid to join in?

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Galthie remarked about 20 protected players but that was last summer.


The agreement with the league was signed months after in October last year. It’s only stipulation is around resting finalists.

192 Go to comments
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