As Israel Folau opened up on old wounds, the three-time John Eales Medallist claimed he could “fit straight in” with the Wallabies if he was playing in the Australian system.
After having his million-dollar contract controversially terminated in 2019 for a social media post, Folau switched to Tonga ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
The dual-international’s hopes of playing in France were cruelled by a devastating knee-injury, which saw him withdraw from Toutai Kefu’s squad.
But Folau, who switched to rugby ahead of the British and Irish Lions series in 2013 after an unsuccessful stint in AFL, believes he could have added to his 73 Tests if eligible.
“I think I could,” the former Wallabies fullback said on The Sporting News’ Ebbs and Flows podcast.
“If I got given the opportunity to go into that changeroom and put on the gold jersey again tomorrow, I think I’d fit straight in.”
Israel Folau believes he could fit straight back into the Wallabies. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Although Folau has continued to post religious posts on social media, the former glittering Wallaby has largely remained out of the media since his fall from grace in Australian rugby.
Folau made global headlines in one of the biggest stories in 2019, as then Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle terminated the Wallaby’s career over a religious-based social media post.
Folau warned his followers that “homosexuals, fornicators and atheists, among others, were going to hell unless they repent”.
“Only Jesus saves” was the final message of the dramatic post.
Folau had already been warned about homophobic social media posts before he signed a four-year, multimillion-dollar deal with RA in 2018.
His next social media post led to Castle slamming the door shut on Folau’s career, which kick-started a bitter-long year legal case which ultimately led to Rugby Australia settling with the star Wallaby on a undisclosed fee estimated to be around $4 million.
“When I put up the post, I never thought that I’d get terminated for it,” he insisted.
“It just never crossed my mind.”
Folau added: “A lot of people misunderstood the actual post and the media played a huge part in taking it and spinning that one word.
“If you know me personally, you’d know the intention behind the post. But the media played a huge part in taking it and spinning it the way they wanted to.
“I think that built all that pressure and momentum which went that way and ended up with me getting terminated.”
Former Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)
Folau said he was glad to have made the switch to rugby, saying he enjoyed the freedom the game offered.
“I think I’m better at rugby than league,” Folau told The Sporting News’ Ebbs and Flows podcast.
“I enjoy playing rugby a lot more than league, anyway.
“Being an outside back, when you’re playing league – if I’m playing on the right edge – I’m just there the whole 80 minutes.
“When you play rugby as an outside back, you have the freedom to roam around and play on both sides of the field. And that’s something I really enjoy.
“You can pop yourself up pretty much anywhere you like.
“As a fullback in league, that’s what they do in that game. But any outside back can do that in rugby whether you’re a winger, centre or fullback.”
