Rugby Australia rule out Israel Folau comeback against British and Irish Lions

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has put a line through Israel Folau’s name, ending his dreams of a return against the British and Irish Lions later this year.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh has ruled out a comeback for Israel Folau against the British and Irish Lions later this year.

Folau has put his hand up to be selected for a trans-Tasman invitational side to face the Lions in July in what would be a remarkable return to Australia, but speaking at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Waugh put a line through the former Wallaby’s name.

“It’s eligibility, essentially, we’re also not pursuing it,” Waugh told this masthead at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.

Sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for posting religiously motivated memes on social media that discriminated against the gay community – after which he took his employer to court and walked away with a multimillion-dollar settlement – Folau has not played a professional rugby game in the country since.

Israel Folau starred against the Lions in 2013. Picture: Chris McCormack

But the 35-year-old is keen to line up against the team that he made his Wallabies Test debut against in 2013, when he lit the world of rugby on fire with a two-try performance at Suncorp Stadium.

Folau, who now plays in Japan for Urayasu D-Rocks, wants to be considered for the AU-NZ Invitational XV to play the Lions at Adelaide Oval on July 12, a week before the first Test against Australia.

“With the Australia-New Zealand game it’s eligible Australian players and New Zealander,” Waugh said.

“And for the First Nations and Pasifika game, it’s players who are in the Australian Super Rugby squads with the caveat that if there’s a challenge around the depth of team, then we can tap into the Moana Pasifika and Drua team. So yeah, it’s sort of pretty simple.

“We’ve got a long-form agreement with the British and Irish Lions, which stipulates the rules around eligibility for the teams that we’re selecting, and in the spirit of good partnership, we’ll adhere to those rules, and these are ineligible.”

Originally published as Rugby Australia rule out Israel Folau comeback against British and Irish Lions