'It's been awesome': Ex-Wallabies star Israel Folau primed for Tonga debut
Controversial former Wallabies star Israel Folau is primed to make his long-awaited return to test rugby when Tonga open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign this weekend.
One of many former international stars to be included in the ‘Ikale Tahi squad for the upcoming tournament in Fiji, Folau is joined in the Tonga set-up by former All Blacks trio Malakai Fekitoa, Charles Piutau and Augustine Pulu.
All four players are available to play for Tonga under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws, which allows test-capped players to represent a second country that they are eligible for via birthright following a three-year international stand down period.
That has paved the way for Folau to make his highly-anticipated return to the test arena against Fiji in Suva this Saturday, a prospect the 33-year-old outside back said he is eagerly anticipating.
“It’s been awesome to be in camp with the ‘Ikale Tahi,” Folau told the Tonga Rugby Union social media channels earlier this week.
“For me, to come back to the team, with the opportunity to connect with the boys, back with the culture, and also a big part of that is our faith in God.
“It’s been a great week so far, and we’re looking forward to spending time with the boys over the next five weeks.”
Folau’s return to the international fold has been a long time coming given it has been four years since he last played internationally, as he won the last of his 73 caps for Australia against England in November 2018.
Since then, Folau has been the subject of one of the highest-profile and most-documented sackings in the sport’s history when he was fired by Rugby Australia [RA] for making anti-gay social media posts in 2019.
Folau and RA reached an out-of-court settlement after the triple-code star sued his former employers for A$14m in what was the beginning of a long road back to the test arena.
Formerly an NRL star who also tried his hand in the AFL, Folau followed his dismissal from RA by returning to rugby league, where he turned out for the France-based Catalans Dragons in the Super League two years ago.
A season in Europe’s premier rugby league competition was followed by a brief stint in the third tier of Queensland rugby league, where he played for the Southport Tigers before signing with the Shining Arcs in Japan Rugby League One.
Despite a difficult campaign for the Shining Arcs, in which they finished 10th in League One’s top division and were relegated into division two after losing a playoff series against the Mitsubishi Dynaboars last month, Folau starred upon his rugby union return.
Scoring 10 tries in 12 matches, Folau’s prolific strike rate was reminiscent of his time in Super Rugby, where he remains the competition’s all-time top try-scorer.
That kind of form made it an easy decision for ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu to call Folau into the Tongan national squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, which will be followed by a World Cup qualifier against either Hong Kong or South Korea next month.
“He’s fitted into the group seamlessly, he’s just one of the boys. He’s a mature young man who goes about his business,” Kefu told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“No-one’s really talked about [the past], he’s just looking forward and trying to be himself and fit in, which he’s doing seamlessly.
“The boys love him and, no matter who you are, this mob will bring you down to earth very quickly. There’s a lot of banter and laughter and that just builds our connection.”
Kefu will reveal his first Tonga squad under World Rugby’s new eligibility laws on Thursday, when he is expected to name Folau on the wing in an outside back trio that should also feature Piutau at fullback.
The new-look powerhouse Tongan outfit will then take on Fiji at ANZ National Stadium at 3:30pm local time on Saturday before they take on Samoa and Australia A at Churchill Park in Lautoka over the following fortnight.
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Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to comments