Israel Folau receives blunt response from Rugby Australia boss on wish to face British and Irish Lions
Former Wallabies full-back Israel Folau and Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh.
Former Wallabies full-back Israel Folau’s hopes of playing in Australia against the British & Irish Lions later this year have been crushed after he was ruled ineligible by Rugby Australia (RA) chief executive Phil Waugh.
Earlier this week, Folau told News Corp that he is keen to return to Australia to resume his playing career during the Lions tour to the country later this year.
The 35-year-old, who currently plies his trade with Japan Rugby League One outfit Urayasu D-Rocks, expressed his desire to be selected for the combined Australia-New Zealand XV to take on the famous touring team in Adelaide on July 12.
Controversial Wallabies departure
Folau made 73 Test appearances for the Wallabies but was sacked by RA in 2019 for a “high-level” breach of their code of conduct following a stream of social media posts that were homophobic.
At the time, Folau’s contract was worth AUS$5-million, and he eventually received a multimillion-dollar settlement from the governing body but has not played in Australia again.
He then represented Tonga in two Tests in 2022 and 2023 after World Rugby altered the eligibility rules for players who had already played for another country.
And Waugh revealed that the Tongan international would not be able to be part of the combined Australia-New Zealand XV to face the Lions based on eligibility rules.
Ineligible for Australia-New Zealand XV
“The reality is that the AU-NZ game is made up of Australian-eligible players and obviously New Zealand players,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“So essentially, once a player, no matter who the player is, is ineligible for Australia, then that has an impact on their availability.”
Waugh also dismissed the possibility of Folau representing the newly announced First Nations and Pasifika side, revealing that only Australian-based Super Rugby players would be considered for selection.
“On the First Nations and Pasifika team … They need to be Australian Super Rugby squad members, and where there’s a gap in competitiveness or strength for welfare reasons, there will be the opportunity to choose some players out of Moana Pasifika and the [Fijian] Drua,” Waugh added.
RA also revealed that it would not assist Folau by seeking selection dispensation for the veteran outside back, who also represented Australia as a rugby league international.
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