Israel Folau signs four-year contract extension with Waratahs
ISRAEL Folau is set to play for Australia to the end of 2022 after signing a four-year contract extension with the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs.
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ISRAEL Folau has knocked back richer deals in France and England to commit to a bumper four-year deal with Rugby Australia that will see him smash the 100-Test milestone for the Wallabies.
The matchwinning fullback-winger will be a nine-year regular in rugby for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs when his new contract expires at the end of 2022.
The deal essentially means the former NRL star’s code-hopping days are over, if that even needed a punctuation mark after 69 Tests already.
Folau faces a fresh challenge in his 70th Test against the All Blacks in Yokohama on Saturday because he is certain to start at outside centre for the first time.
He will be 33 when the deal is up.
The big punch to Folau’s commitment, not yet unveiled publicly but with all the paperwork signed, is that he will continue to be star-power for Australian rugby domestically.
Because he had reached the Giteau Law mark of 60 Tests, Folau could have accepted a mega-deal in France, England or Japan, where he has had suitors before, and still flown in from off-shore to just play Tests for the Wallabies.
With this deal, Folau’s try-jinks will still be a riveting showpiece for the code in Australia because he has elected to remain with the Waratahs.
Folau did not confirm any exact details or term of deal when he spoke after two hours of autograph signing, happy snaps and interviews for eager Japanese rugby fans at the main ASICS sports store in Tokyo.
He did warm up and reveal that he had told his management some time ago to sort out a deal with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs for a “long term” commitment to Australian rugby.
“I made it known to my agent I was interested in staying in the game,” Folau said.
“When I’m ready to come out with all the details I will.
“Obviously, with the luxury of locking in a long term deal I can really focus on those years.
“At the time I was looking at a few options but I let my management know what I wanted...I let them do their job and I’ll do mine.
“Japan is an amazing place and the people are incredible but I’m not getting too caught up because the main reason we’re here is the Test match against the All Blacks.”
Folau added there was a time early this year when staying in rugby was in the balance.
“At one stage I didn’t think I’d be in the game,” Folau said.
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster off the field and it might be a bit crazy to say but I enjoyed what happened off the field (in terms of it) moulding me into a stronger person even though it was challenging and hard.”
Folau was referencing the April fallout from his clumsy social post referencing “hell” for gay people “unless they repent of their sins and turn to God” before he said he no phobias about any social group.
There was a real possibility of accepting the lure of joining the Queensland Reds where he has a bond with coach Brad Thorn.
Wife Maria’s Kiwi parents have recently moved to Brisbane to live but Folau has decided to remain living in Sydney while his wife plays netball in Adelaide next season.
How big this is for Australian rugby cannot be overstated.
Coach Michael Cheika has made a deliberate move to shake-up the tedious landscape of one-year and two-year contracts where Super Rugby teams and the Wallabies seem constantly on the treadmill of negotiating and re-signing stars.
This means Folau is locked in for four years after skipper Michael Hooper’s landmark five-year agreement earlier in the season.
A five-year deal for key prop and leader Allan Alaalatoa is believed to be nearly finalised as well.
Other marquee names like flyhalf Bernard Foley have elected to re-sign just for one year in 2019 but, at 30 by that time, there is sound reason for him to explore rugby’s offerings abroad again.
Folau has played the role of outside centre with assertive runs in set plays for the Waratahs and Wallabies plenty of times before.
Saturday will be different with the defensive responsibilities of the hot spot his full responsibility.
Horan has confidence that Folau’s experience will help him make a go of starting at outside centre for the first time in a Test but warned he’ll be challenged.
“Izzy has played there within games before but fullback and wing is where I like to see him playing,” Horan said.
“When they attack the All Blacks will be trying to isolate him so he’s going to have to be alert because outside centre is the hardest position on the field as a defender.”
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Originally published as Israel Folau signs four-year contract extension with Waratahs