Former Wallabies star Israel Folau has expressed his frustration after Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh confirmed he is ineligible for a shock return against the British and Irish Lions next year, reigniting tensions over his controversial 2019 sacking.
Folau, who was axed over anti-gay social media posts before reaching a confidential settlement with RA, said he was ‘very disappointed’ by the decision, marking the latest clash in their long-running feud.
Waugh has emphatically ruled out Folau’s potential return, declaring the controversial star’s comeback was “never discussed” due to his switch of international allegiance to Tonga.
The decision sparked a sharp response from Folau, who called the exclusion “very disappointing” and claimed he would not have spoken publicly about a return if he didn’t believe RA supported his bid, reigniting tensions from his 2019 sacking.
“Folau later received an apology – and confidential settlement payment – from Rugby Australia after initially seeking up to $14million in damages”, the Mail reported.
In a recent Instagram post, Folau, who is now based in Japan, said the decision is “very disappointing” adding that he wouldn’t have spoken publicly if he did not believe RA supported his return.
“I just wanted to address a couple of things in regards to a few media articles that have been floating around the past week in relation to me playing in this Anzac v Lions game later this year and how this all came about,” Folau said on Instagram.
“I was contacted last week by Jamie Pandaram, who is a journalist from Sydney, and he was in conversations with Phil Waugh, and Phil had told him that he was open to the idea of me being involved in this game if I was interested in that.
“And so Jamie reached out to a good friend of mine – [former Wallaby] Sekope Kepu – and told him the same thing and made the connection between myself and Jamie.
In 2020, World Rugby made a decision that allowed players to switch their international allegiance after a three-year break.
Subsequently, Folau announced that he would represent Tonga’s national team, ‘Ikale Tahi, which was at the time coached by former Wallabies star Toutai Kefu.
Folau, who is of Tongan heritage, switched allegiance in 2022 in order to represent Tonga.
