Rugby left red-faced after Waratahs miss opportunity for photo call with MLB superstars

WHERE’S Izzy? That was the question flying around on Thursday after the Waratahs failed to make the most of the MLB photo call at the SCG.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: (L-R) Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes, Sydney FC player Ale

WHERE’S Izzy? That was the question flying around on Thursday after a photograph of Sydney’s biggest sporting names with visiting baseballers yesterday became more about who wasn’t in the snap than who was.

Namely, where was Israel Folau alongside SBW, Alessandro Del Piero and Adam Goodes as a representative of the Waratahs and rugby union?

Given the picture ran on back pages and news bulletins - and even made the LA Times - it was immediately seen as a huge lost opportunity for rugby.

Others views on social media weren’t so mild, with one satirist posting the image and the caption: “Rugby Union has announced it’s officially given up.”

Behind the scenes, numerous rugby officials were fuming that Folau wasn’t in the million-dollar image.

So what happened?

Folau had a sponsor’s commitment he couldn’t break.

Folau was invited several weeks ago by organisers, and the Waratahs were enthusiastic to be involved.

On Monday night SBW, Del Piero and Goodes were also locked in but the problem was the baseballers - $34m Dodgers man Clayton Kershaw and Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt - were not. The two rival clubs were apparently reluctant to pose up their biggest stars together.

Throughout Tuesday the photograph looked as if it would not happen, which led to Folau agreeing to “prior sponsors commitments” on his day off, according to his manager Isaac Moses. The prior commitment clashed with the 4pm call-time for the photo.

When the shoot was confirmed on Tuesday night, the Waratahs were unable to contact Folau and organisers declined the offer of NSW captain Dave Dennis or another Waratah as a replacement.

“We are very disappointed we weren’t able to be involved,” a Waratahs spokesman said.

A source close to the baseball promotion said: “It was all about the best of the best”.

And though an Adam Ashley-Cooper or Kurtley Beale might go close to fitting the bill, that stance is understandable.

Angry rugby sources said despite all the confusion, the red button should have been pushed on Wednesday and Folau withdrawn from his other commitments to take a place in the photo.

Interestingly, however, Folau wasn’t the only absentee.

Test captain Michael Clarke also pulled out to film a TV commercial, and it is understood SBW was only made available due to the fact he’s suspended and not with the Roosters in Brisbane.