Folau’s club says security staff took down rainbow flag because it blocked ads - not to silence his critics
Israel Folau’s rugby league return in France was spectacular - and controversial when security took down a rainbow flag. Here is why they did it.
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Israel Folau’s new rugby league team claims that security staff took down a rainbow flag because it was blocking an advertising board rather than to silence his critics.
The Catalans Dragons said the incident at the weekend’s match was not designed to stop fans expressing their views about the controversial star
Folau has moved to France to reignite his professional football career after he was sacked because of his anti-gay Instagram posts in Australia.
Photographs of a security guard forcing a rival Castleford fan to take down a rainbow flag - a universal symbol for LGBTI rights - were labelled as “disgusting”.
But the club said in a statement that rainbow flags would be welcome at upcoming games.
“Catalans Dragons are happy to confirm that supporters’ flags are welcome in all the stands at Gilbert Brutus Stadium,” the club said.
“We noted the complaints of certain Castleford supporters but, having reviewed the CCTV footage and numerous photos in the media, we can confirm that supporters were able to display their flags and colours throughout.
“However it is important that flags and banners do not cover advertising boards. Stadium security staff are briefed to ensure that advertising boards are kept clear throughout the game.”
Folau scored with his first touch at the Catalans Dragons, but he did not respond to questions about his move and the club has banned interviews with him.
The club’s next game is at Hull in the UK, with that club saying they would welcome rainbow flags.
Other teams have planned gay pride days to coincide with Folau’s matches after a widespread backlash to his recruitment in the UK based Super League.
FOLAU’S REMARKABLE RETURN
Israel Folau has made a remarkable return to rugby league, playing the full match in his comeback and scoring a try after almost a year away from professional sport.
The cross code superstar sacked in Australia over his anti-gay social media posts played in the centres for the Catalans Dragons as they defeated Castleford Tigers 36 to 18.
Folau started strongly with a try in the first five minutes after receiving a high pass from teammate Josh Drinkwater.
He worked hard throughout the match and was a handful for the opposition all night as Maloney repeatedly looked to him for a kick pass.
And he laid some strong tackles as he attempted to put the focus on his rugby league, rather than his online posts.
Folau walked on the ground to the soundtrack AC/DC’s Hells Bells, which was a surprising choice given the controversy over his Instagram post that said “hell awaits gay people”.
He showed he still was a prized, if controversial recruit for the Catalans Dragons in the UK Super League.
The Dragons were in control of the game throughout with Sam Tomkins icing the game in the final minute with a try.
A healthy crowd was in the Stade Gilbert Brutus to watch the match that has generated more column inches than any other in recent years as the man considered one of the best players of his generation returned to the field.
And they cheered when Folau touched the ball.
Folau, 30, is under a strict ban from repeating his homophobic comments that forced his exile in Australia and he has refused media interviews.
Catalans chairman Bernard Guasch told News Corp Australia before the match that he was excited to see Folau play.
“This is a fantastic day for rugby league,” he said.
“Israel is a fantastic player, the principal today is rugby and he plays rugby very well.”
When asked about Folau’s anti-gay comments that made him a cut price recruit for the Catalans, Guasch replied: “It’s okay, there’s no problem here.”
Folau has joined fellow Australians Maloney and Josh Drinkwater at the Dragons, with Greg Bird one of the team’s coaches.
The club had an uphill battle against Castleford after an interrupted start to the season.
Their game against Wakefield was cancelled because of storms in the UK last week.
Folau was ushered into the ground earlier under tight security, but there had been no planned demonstrations against him at the game, despite opposition from local gay rights’ groups.
Born in Minto, Folau burst onto the football scene as a teenager for the Melbourne Storm rugby league club before joining the high-profile Brisbane Broncos.
He had a shortlived stay in the AFL with Greater Western Sydney before turning to rugby union with the NSW Waratahs and the Australian Wallabies.
Folau was named in Catalans Dragons’ starting line-up for their game against Castleford.
Folau, 30, scored 37 tries in 73 rugby union Tests before being dumped by Australia after a post saying that “hell awaits” gay people and others he considers sinners.
FOLAU’S PERFECT NEW LIFE IN FRANCE
Israel Folau has found a perfect new life in the south of France as he tries to put his social media controversy behind him.
But he has revealed that he almost gave away the game completely as the pressure of his sacking by Rugby Australia and his unfair dismissal court case came down to bear.
A smiling, fresh faced Folau was due to play his first game of rugby league in a decade this morning (4am AEDT Sunday).
The 30-year-old has joined fellow Australians James Maloney and Josh Drinkwater at the Catalans Dragons, a club in the UK Super League.
His former teammate Greg Bird is also a coach there and they have made him feel at home, which is away from the spotlight that has followed him during his career and intensified after his anti-gay Instagram post.
“I haven’t played 13-a-side for 10 years, so I am also pretty nervous. But the environment is favourable, between the staff and the players, so that I can give my best,” Folau said.
“I am here to be competitive, to play rugby and be consistent with my performances for the team. It’s great to come back in a new team environment and to find a training routine with the others, but the most important thing is to give the best for my team.”
Folau said he considered quitting professional sport amid the fallout of his $14 million lawsuit against Rugby Australia.
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“Yes of course I thought about ending my career and to do other things,” the ex Wallaby said in an interview with Perpignan newspaper L’Independant.
“I thank the president and my coach for this opportunity they have given me. It’s like a new start for me and I am very excited to return to the sport in which I became known.”
The Catalans Dragons on Saturday unveiled a charity green and gold jersey to raise money for the Australian bushfire relief appeal.
The shirts, which were being sold for $65 AUD, will go to support those who lost their homes in the blazes.
Folau, who was not included in the photograph to promote the shirts, had been criticised for suggesting the fires were because of Australia’s support for same sex marriage.
Folau trained strongly during a short session at Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan on Friday night Australian time.
Final teams were due to be announced at 11.30pm Australian time on Saturday, with the game to start at 4am Sunday AEDT.
The Perpignan-based Catalans Dragons, which is two hours drive east of Barcelona, is one of two international teams in the UK Super League.
The working class town has a pretty historic centre with stone buildings, while the beach of Canet Plage is 15 minutes away and the snow capped Pyrenees mountains are an hour’s drive inland.
It’s the best of both worlds, professional sport but without the hassle of dozens of cameras at every training session.
English speaking players can tune out because the newspapers are in French and they cannot understand what’s being said about them on the television sports shows.
News Corp Australia spotted Bird and Maloney having lunch with their partners in Canet Plage early on Saturday Australian time.
Folau has missed almost a year of rugby because of the fallout of his Instagram post that said “hell awaits gay people”.
But Bird said he would be fit enough to make an impact.
“He’s a natural, I think he’s going to play,” he said.
Maloney said there had been “no issues” since Folau arrived two weeks ago.
“He’s a good player, a quality player,” he said.
Ben Pomeroy, who plays with the Catalans reserve side, said: “He’s going to kill it.”
The beachfront along Canet Plage turns into a strip of outdoor bars during the summer months as tourists flock to Costa Brava, making it the ideal place to socialise.
Folau’s wife Maria has joined him at the club after finishing her netball career and standing by him during the controversy.
There has been a backlash to Folau’s recruitment, with rival Super League clubs demanding that Catalans pay compensation if sponsors pull out because of his views.
None have to date.
Jean-Loup Thevenot, of gay rights group LGBT+ 66 in Perpignan, said he was disappointed with Folau’s arrival.
He had invited Folau and the club to visit the group’s headquarters to discuss the issue, but they declined, he said.
“We never restrict anyone to express their ideas, but we suggested the club and Folau to meet us and discuss but both of them said they didn’t want to,” Thevenot said in a translated interview.
They had meetings with rugby union clubs in the region about homophobia, he added.
“In the end the arrival of Folau is going to help us because we can talk and create some reaction,” he added.
More than 9000 fans were expected to see Folau run out with Catalans for the clash against the Castleford Tigers.
The Dragons have had an interrupted start to the year, with storm Ciara in the UK forcing the cancellation of their round two clash against Wakefield Trinity last week.
They will be hoping Folau can make an immediate impact.
stephen.drill@news.co.uk
Originally published as Folau’s club says security staff took down rainbow flag because it blocked ads - not to silence his critics