Israel Folau reveals religious saga almost forced him out of rugby
ISRAEL Folau just signed a monster four-year deal that will keep him in Wallabies colours until the end of 2022, but the fullback revealed he nearly walked away from rugby union during the “gays to hell” furore.
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ISRAEL Folau openly admitted he felt his time in rugby was over at times this season before the headspinning four-year deal that will now earn him a cool $3 million-plus as a Wallaby and NSW Waratah.
The matchwinner knocked back shorter mega-deals in France, Japan and England to commit to the bumper contract with Rugby Australia and his Super Rugby home in Sydney.
Folau did not reveal any of the contract numbers or even that it had been finalised when interviewed in the bustling heart of Tokyo but he did confirm he had made “a long-term commitment” to Australian rugby.
He will be starting at outside centre for the first time in his 70th Test on Saturday against the All Blacks in Yokohama and promised he could step up defensively in the front line as well as roam in attack.
The backline ace will be a 10-year regular in rugby for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs when his new contract expires at the end of 2022 and should routinely smash the 100-Test milestone.
The deal essentially snuffs out the “Izzy: NRL Coup” headlines for good because he’ll be 33 when this contract is up. His code-hopping days are over.
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The April fallout from his clumsy social post referencing “hell” for gay people “unless they repent of their sins and turn to God” was a polarising period even when Folau said he had “no phobias.”
“At some stage I didn’t think I was going to be in the game but those thoughts always chop and change,” Folau said after two hours signing autographs and having photos taken with eager Japanese fans as the Tokyo ASICS store.
“I base everything around my faith and belief in God...I tend to go wherever he wants me to go.”
Whoever was Folau’s main adviser, it is a coup for Australian rugby because he will continue to be star-power for Australian rugby domestically when he qualified to play abroad and could have chosen just to fly home for Tests.
It’s not Folau’s nature to cruise with a long-term deal.
“I’m 29 now, I can’t tell the future but I’m never really feeling comfortable in the position I’m in. Whatever happens to me it keeps me on my toes, just trying to improve as a footy player but also as a person,” he said
Folau admitted there were tough times this season but that it had matured him and taught him to stick to what he believed.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster year, more so off the field,” Folau said.
“It might sound a bit crazy, but I kind of really enjoyed what was happening off the field, not that it happened on purpose.
“It was hard but it was actually moulding me into a stronger person and taught me a lot of things that I needed to learn.”
Because he had reached the Giteau Law mark of 60 Tests, Folau could have accepted a mega-deal in France, England or Japan where Robbie Deans’ Panasonic Wild Knights have courted him before.
Folau confirmed the Queensland Reds were a strong suitor and was surprised the signing news leaked on Tuesday when saying “It hasn’t come out from myself but when I am ready to do so I will in due time.”
“I guess I had a look at a few (other) options but once I was comfortable with what I wanted I let my management deal with it...I let them do their job and I focus on my priority, rugby,” he said.
“A lot of people will say negative things about what was happening (In April with the social media post) but it taught me to actually love and forgive them for obviously not agreeing,” Folau said.
“A lot of people would probably say it would affect my rugby, but I’ve never felt so much peace going onto the field. I’m truly myself.”
He will be in the hot seat on Saturday against the All Blacks.
“I’m confident in having to defend there up front and doing it league helps,” Folau said.
“It’s all about the connections with guys inside and outside of you.
“I’m someone who embraces a change and challenges.”
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