Israel Folau will go to Federal Court if not registered with QRL: Palmer

The QRL has until Wednesday to register controversial code hopper Israel Folau or face court action, says his billionaire backer Clive Palmer.

Israel Folau will take Queensland Rugby League to the Federal Court if he is not successfully registered by Wednesday, according to his financial backer, mining magnate Clive Palmer. 

Mr Palmer said he believed Folau would seek court orders forcing the QRL to register him so he could play for the Southport Tigers against the Burleigh Bears next weekend.

“If he is not registered by Wednesday, I believe he will issue an injunction in the Federal Court of Australia against the QRL for their discrimination against him on religious grounds,” Mr Palmer said in a statement last night. 

Folau was joined by billionaire Palmer on Friday to announce he’d signed with amateur club Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast’s A-Grade competition.

The news sparked Folau’s UK Super League club to contemplate legal action, as he is still on contract with Catalans Dragons.

Mr Palmer said Folau should be registered immediately.

“Israel, like any other Australian, has the right to support his family,” he said.

The QRL was unavailable for comment last night, but said on Friday it was considering the Tigers’ application, in line with its rules and processes that governed the registration of players.

“An update will be provided when the process is complete,” the statement said.

The NRL has previously said Folau is not welcome to return to the competition, after Rugby Australia terminated the code-hopper’s contract in 2019 over religious social media posts that vilified homosexuals.

He signed with Catalans Dragons last year.

Originally published as Israel Folau will go to Federal Court if not registered with QRL: Palmer