Israel Folau NRL: Could Maria Folau play elite netball in Sydney?
While the Dragons look to resuscitate the NRL career of controversial footballer Israel Folau, is there a chance his wife — a former netballer — could restart her elite career in Sydney?
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While the Dragons look to resuscitate the NRL career of controversial code-hopper Israel Folau there’s little change his netball star wife Maria Folau will be playing the elite game here in Sydney.
The New Zealand netball superstar quietly announced her retirement from netball in December 2019 after playing 150 games for her country and being one of its most recognised and acclaimed athletes.
And while there is no suggestion Folau, who starred for the Silver Ferns for more than a decade, is interested in coming out of retirement, there would be obstacles if she was, with both of NSW’s Super Netball teams already confirming their playing squads for the upcoming season.
The NSW Swifts and Giants late last year revealed their 10-player rosters for the 2021 Super Netball season starting in May, with both clubs also locking in training partners.
Folau had a stint playing at the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Super Netball in 2019, around the same time her husband’s multimillion-dollar contract was terminated by Rugby Australia over controversial social media posts.
The former Wallaby has since settled his legal dispute with the national body for a confidential amount and in 2020 was playing in France while his wife spent her first year away from netball.
On Tuesday news broke the St George Dragons were seeking permission from the NRL to bring Folau back to rugby league.
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