Israel Folou joins likes of Matt Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Andrew Walker in falling out with Rugby Australia

Israel Folau is in good company after his bitter dispute with Rugby Australia. Each of the six previous dual internationals who went from league to union have had a big fallout.

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Israel Folau is in good company after his bitter dispute with Rugby Australia.

The 30-year-old Folau is just the seventh player to have represented the Kangaroos in rugby league then the Wallabies after switching codes to rugby union.

And just like the previous six, Folau’s crossover has been a rocky road that has involved a fallout with the governing body.

Here’s what happened to the other converts.

ANDREW WALKER

The first Australian dual international to play league first then union. Played one Test for the Kangaroos in 1996 then seven for the Wallabies from 2000-01 but was dogged by off-field disciplinary problems, mostly involving alcohol. Returned to league in 2004 and was banned for two years for cocaine use.

Wendell Sailor had his rugby career terminated in 2006.

WENDELL SAILOR

Switched to union in 2002 in a blaze of publicity. Played 37 Tests for the Wallabies, including the 2003 World Cup final, but was often in trouble for disciplinary breaches. His multimillion-dollar contract was terminated in 2006 when he tested positive to cocaine and handed a two-year ban.

MAT ROGERS

Made his Wallaby Test debut in the same match as Sailor and played in the 2003 World Cup final. Was fined in 2014 for describing club rugby as a “waste of time.” In 2006, after 45 Test appearances, Rogers was released from his contract so he could return to league.

LOTE TUQIRI

Followed Sailor from the Brisbane Broncos to union in 2003. Scored Australia’s only try in the World Cup final loss to England and made 67 Test appearances for the Wallabies before his contract was suddenly terminated in 2009 for taking a woman to his hotel room, breaching strict team rules.

TIMANA TAHU

Scored the match-clinching try for the Newcastle Knights in the 2001 NRL grand final. Represented Australia five times before switching codes in 2007. Made four appearances for the Wallabies but became disillusioned so took a pay cut to secure an early release from his contract so he could rejoin the NRL.

Karmichael Hunt is trying to get his career back on track at the Waratahs.

KARMICHAEL HUNT

In 2015, his first year in rugby, was fined for cocaine possession but made six appearances for the Wallabies in 2017. Was banished to club rugby for 2018 after another recreational drug scandal. Fined by Rugby Australia and placed on a drugs testing program, he joined the Waratahs this season.

Originally published as Israel Folou joins likes of Matt Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Andrew Walker in falling out with Rugby Australia