Tonga warns of revolt in Folau fight

Tonga says the RLIF and NRL have no grounds to stop Israel Folau from representing the island nation.

Israel Folau is eligible to represent the nation of his parents’ birth says the Tongan National Rugby League Picture: AAP

The Tongan National Rugby League has warned of a backlash from the island nation should ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg successfully lobby the international board to prevent Israel Folau turning out for the Mate Ma’a.

Beattie and Greenberg will be part of a phone hook-up with the Rugby League International Federation on Thursday afternoon where Tonga and their decision to select Folau will be the primary items on the agenda.

The RLIF has been keeping a close eye on Tonga after the governing body fell out with a number of senior players, among them Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, over the decision to part ways with coach Kristian Woolf.

Tongan officials have ploughed on regardless and they stunned the rugby league world on Monday afternoon when they announced Folau would be part of their squad for Test matches against Great Britain and Australia later this year.

Beattie and Greenberg, who have ruled out a return to the NRL for Folau after the comments on social media that prompted the Australian Rugby Union to terminate his contract, were caught off guard by the news.

Both men are members of the RLIF executive. Tongan secretary William Edwards went back over the rules on Tuesday and insisted there was nothing to prevent Folau turning out for the nation of his parents’ birth.

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“We have been through everything,” Edwards said.

“When you look at the eligibility rules, one of the things he is meant to comply with is whether he is Tongan or not.

“Both parents being of Tongan descent and born in Tonga, he automatically qualifies. Straight away he is eligible because he is Tongan. We haven’t been given any rules that say he has to apply to the RLIF to be eligible to play. There is no such rule whatsoever.

“So effectively we relied on our stance that once we submitted it early on Friday to (RLIF chief executive) Nigel Wood and there was no objection raised by him, we were of the view ..... that is was accepted as our list of players.

“If he is not playing for Australia, he is not offending or infringing on Australia in terms of inclusivity. So why are they taking offence to someone playing for another country?”

The backlash against the NRL over their attempt to freeze Folau out of international football has already begun. Prominent Folau supporter Alan Jones used his radio show on 2GB on Tuesday to question the stance by NRL powerbrokers to influence the RLIF.

“They’re trying to stop Israel Folau playing for Tonga,” Jones said.

“Any person in any form of administration is trying to stop him playing. He must be some kind of criminal, is he? What has Israel done except profess his Christian faith?”

Edwards warned the nation of Tonga would revolt against the game and key officials if Folau was prevented from playing.

“There will be a backlash if the public find out they are going to ban him for a reason that doesn’t appear apparent to the Tongan people,” Edwards said.

“He will fill half the stadium by himself down in Waikato. There will be a backlash at the games too. Once the Tongans find out he is not going to be eligible to play, don’t be surprised if you have Tongans outside that stadium protesting and saying ‘Let Folau play’.

“That is not what they need.”

The dramatic developments with Folau have heightened tension between Tonga, the NRL and the RLIF. In some quarters, the decision to bring Folau on board is viewed by some as an attempt to thumb their nose at not only the NRL, but their players.

“Why would we go and ask them for permission first?” Edwards said.

“There is nothing there that requires us to go and seek registration. They would be infringing on a person’s right to play such as a restraint of trade.

“You are talking about a person’s right to represent their country. Then someone else comes along, who isn’t even Tongan, and tells you that you can’t play even though he represents all the eligibility rules.

“He has infringed on no code of conduct. In terms of any participation agreement, he has made no infringement and breached no rules.

“What criminal conduct has Israel done? I understand their view on inclusiveness. Isn’t there a chance for any person to be reconsidered in terms of their position for purposes of rehabilitation.’’