Israel Folau extends contract with French club Catalans Dragons
Israel Folau has made a surprise decision to stay on with French club Catalans Dragons, snubbing potentially larger pay packets in the NRL.
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Israel Folau has signed on for another year at French club Catalans Dragons, despite interest from NRL clubs who wanted to bring the cross code star back to Australia.
He has agreed to a one-year contract extension at the Dragons, which plays in the UK Super League.
Folau will be playing Super League against Sonny Bill Williams at the Toronto Wolfpack, and Greg Inglis, who has signed on for the Warrington Wolves for next season.
The 31-year-old, whose homophobic Instagram account posts cost Rugby Australia millions after a bitter legal dispute, has rebuffed approaches from NRL clubs.
Folau said on Friday night that he wanted to stick with the club that had resurrected his career after he was exiled from Australian sport.
“Me and my family are very excited to stay on at the club for season 2021,” he said.
“We’re very grateful for the opportunity that Bernard Guasch and the Dragons have given me. “I’m looking forward to working hard and achieving great success on the field with my teammates and this great club.”
Folau had only played three games for the Dragons when coronavirus hit, suspending the season.
Training was due to resume on Monday, with matches from August.
Folau scored a try with his first touch in Super League in a much anticipated fixture at the Stade De Brutus in Perpignan in February.
He has remained in the south of France with his wife Maria, a former Silver Ferns netball, who is expecting their first child.
The decision to stay was unexpected because of his links to Australia and the potentially larger pay packets in the NRL.
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Catalans coach Steve McNamara, who previously worked as an assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters, said he was delighted with the signing.
“The most impressive asset he showed in the short period before the confinement was his willingness to work hard for the team,” he said.
“On top of that he clearly is a great athlete with a tremendous skill set.”
Folau’s arrival caused a storm in Perpignan, with a rainbow flag held by a gay rights activist ordered to be taken down at his first game.
Local LBGT community leaders also questioned the decision to pick him up.
But Catalans Dragons chairman Bernard Guasch, said his arrival had been well received once he started playing.
“He has shown he is a respectful player since he arrived at the club. He will be 32 years old at the end of his new contract and we will then think about the rest of his career,” he said.
Originally published as Israel Folau extends contract with French club Catalans Dragons