Waratahs star Israel Folau surprises Mudgee Wombats pen pal Flynn English on pre-season trip

WARATAHS fullback Israel Folau paid a surprise visit to young Flynn English after the nine-year-old Mudgee Wombats fullback wrote his hero a letter guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Waratahs and Wallabies star Israel Folau, Flynn English and a portion of the letter.

THE Waratahs impressed plenty of locals in Mudgee last weekend but none more than nine-year-old Flynn English.

After hearing NSW would play a trial against the Brumbies in his hometown, young Flynn stayed up late and penned a letter to star Israel Folau last year.

In a funny note, Flynn spelt out how he is a huge fan of Folau’s books and that he is a fullback like Folau.

Or at least like Folau is when he is playing for the Wallabies.

Waratahs and Wallabies star Israel Folau, Flynn English and a portion of the letter.

“If I was Daryl Gibson, I would put you at starting fullback,” Flynn wrote. “Don’t tell Andrew Kellaway but I think you are a better fullback than he is. But I guess you are really good at outside centre as well so why not put you there?”

Aware the trial would be played in the pre-season, Flynn also invited Folau to his property for some fitness.

“You may like to stop at my farm for some hardcore training,” Flynn wrote.

Flynn passes on a few tips to Israel Folau.

“We’ve got a massive lake to do some swimming, big hills to do hill training and best of for some footy blokes ... footy posts! Can’t wait to see you guys in Mudgee. Hope to hear back from you, and you like the training idea, I’ve got the address below.”

To Flynn’s shock, Folau arrived at his doorstep on the morning of the trial.

Folau and teammates Bernard Foley, Will Skelton, Rob Horne and Jed Holloway cooked breakfast for Flynn and some of his mates.

Later they played a game of touch with the rest of Flynn’s Mudgee Wombats teammates, and the town turned out in force to watch NSW beat the Brumbies in the evening.

The smiles of Flynn and his mates, we suspect, are yet to be wiped off.

Originally published as Waratahs star Israel Folau surprises Mudgee Wombats pen pal Flynn English on pre-season trip