'We're more than happy to have him': Tonga coach opens the door for Israel Folau to make rugby comeback
Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has revealed controversial former Wallabies star Israel Folau has expressed interest in returning to rugby union to play for the Pacific Island nation.
Folau hasn’t played union since he was sacked by Rugby Australia [RA] in 2019 for posting a meme on social media that said hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups.
Following legal proceedings that resulted in a confidential settlement between Folau and RA, the triple-code star moved back to rugby league by signing a one-season deal to play for the Catalan Dragons in the Super League.
Now back in Brisbane, Folau is currently a free agent across both union and league, and has been the subject of speculation about possibly turning out for Tonga at this year’s Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom.
However, the prospect of the 32-year-old returning for a second stint in union is still alive as Kefu told RNZ Folau has been in contact about playing for the ‘Ikale Tahi.
“He’s Tongan, he’s a bloody good player – we’re more than happy to have him and accommodate him… We’d have no concerns,” Kefu said about the prospect of the 73-test Australian international playing test rugby for Tonga.
“We all grew up the same way. We all went to Sunday School and then there’s different divisions of religion that we all grew up in. We certainly all support Israel and his views.”
The switch in allegiance wouldn’t come without its complications, though, given the unlikelihood that Folau would be able to land a professional contract in Australia.
Whether any clubs or franchises outside of Australia would be willing to take the utility back – who can cover fullback, wing and centre – onboard remains to be seen, but what is certain is that any nationality change wouldn’t happen immediately.
Folau last played for the Wallabies in November 2018 and needs to complete a three-year international stand down period before being eligible to play for another country that he holds a passport for.
That stand down period won’t be completed until November this year, four months after the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monaco.
The tournament, scheduled for the weekend of 19-20 July, acts as the final opportunity for players to switch international allegiance until the next Olympic cycle.
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After that, the next window for Folau to crossover from Australia to Tonga would be at the 2023 Oceania Sevens Championship, at which point he would be 34 and would have missed the 2023 World Cup in France.
Former All Blacks utility back Charles Piutau is facing a similar predicament as he continues to work towards switching his allegiance from New Zealand to Tonga.
While the 17-test international hasn’t played a test match in six years, his commitments to his club side, Bristol Bears, could prevent him from taking to the field for the Tongan sevens side in Monaco.
Bristol are currently 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership standings and are highly likely to be involved in the competition’s semi-finals, which are scheduled for the same weekend as the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Tonga Rugby Union chief executive Peter Harding last week expressed doubt over Piutau’s availability for the tournament, but Kefu remains optimistic about coming to a resolution with Bristol.
“It’s unfortunate about Charles. We still haven’t got the exact date of the tournament and there may be an option of maybe flying Charles in just for the day or day and a half to maybe just qualify him and get him on the field,” Kefu said.
“I know he’s got finals time around that time so we still haven’t ruled him out.”
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Kefu added Kiwi star George Moala, who played four tests for the All Blacks between 2015 and 2016, is another player he is keen on, but as his club, Clermont, is expected to qualify for the Top 14 play-offs, there is uncertainty about his availability as well.
“There’s George Moala as well who’s at Clermont and they look like they’ll be in the midst of finals as well around that Monaco tournament.”
However, early indications of ex-All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa taking to the field for Tonga in Monaco are promising given his side, Wasps, are languishing in ninth place and aren’t expected to make the Premiership’s top four.
That would make the 28-year-old, who played the last of his 24 tests for New Zealand in 2017, free to play sevens for his nation of birth in July.
“Malakai is probably the only high-profile player that we know that looks like going to the tournament – we’re still in constant discussions with him,” Kefu said.
Tonga will compete against the likes of France, Ireland, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Jamaica and Uganda at the tournament in Monaco for the final place at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The men’s Olympic sevens tournament is scheduled to take place between 26-28 July and will be held at Tokyo Stadium, the venue that staged eight matches – including the opening match and three play-off matches – at the 2019 World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 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. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? 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?
13 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?
45 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.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments