Folau confirms Japan rugby in off-season

The ARU should come clean and just admit that any semblance of creating an even playing field or building up rugby outside of Queensland and NSW (and to a lesser extent ACT) is now totally out of the window. Georgina Robinson of the SMH provided the following additional information on 3 July 2015 under an article headed: How Waratahs can afford Folau "The answer is a combination of some clever manipulation of the ARU's marquee-player contracting rules and an upside to farewelling South African character Jacques Potgieter. And the result is that just $150,000 - a little more than a quarter - of Folau's NSW salary is counted under the salary cap. The rest, an estimated $250,000 or more based on a conservative 50-50 split of an $800,000 total package, excluding third-party deals, will be footed by the 2014 title winners, but will not impact their ability to fund the rest of their roster. The move would not have been possible last year, when the $150,000 marquee-player clause applied only to Test-capped foreign players. From next year, the ARU will allow Australia's five Super Rugby teams to use the clause in two more scenarios: if they are bringing home an overseas-based Wallaby, or recruiting a player from another code. It is the latter under which the Waratahs are writing off the bulk of Folau's considerable price tag, even though he was recruited from AFL three years ago and will be on his third contract in rugby next year." I've no problems with bending the rules but PLEASE bend the rules in a manner that is available at the same time to ALL of the Aussie franchises. Isn't it "surprising" that these new loopholes seem to become apparent to the Waratahs (Folau) and the Reds (Cooper and Hunt) but don't seem to be available for others. I'm sure that both the Force and the Rebels could have made good use of such a loophole over the past few months to help strengthen their teams for 2016. Folau has not been a convert from another code for some time and has had 3 contacts in 3 years. For the Waratahs to only have to give up $150,000 of its $4.5 MIllion salary cap for a player of the calibre of Folau makes a joke of the salary cap system. There was much made of the ARU providing $0.5 Million to WA and Vic to develop Rugby Acadamies in each state. Little was said that this only re-established the system that had been in place previously but had lost financing 2 years ago. It's gouing to be a loong slooow road to building the game until the NRC gets well established and the main states can be convinced of the greater good that could be available through a player DRAFT system. There is no chance of building the code in Australia until the ARU, NSW and Qld get real about really developing the game in the non-core States.

Never heard his name mentioned once.

He'll certainly be a good marketing role model to build up the hype around Rugby ahead of 2019. I think there'll be a strong push from World Rugby and the JRU to promote the game (and it's players) once the RWC2015 and 2016 Olympic promotions are done. Folau could be well placed to capatalise on that with NTT and also with the Waratahs (thanks to Super Rugby expanding in to Japan).

Stay fit Izzy.

japanese club rugby is far less brutal compared to european rugby, they train harder but the games themselves are probably better for a player to take part in if you are trying to cottonball him

well TBF, Nick Cummins short stint in Japan made him a household name..especially when the media there spelt his name funny ..hehe

Rugby players are pretty much unknown to the wider Japanese society. Like the rest, unless he makes headlines he won't be noticed.

What is the point if there is nothing left in the tank to play with. Maybe a season destroying injury. A continuous season makes this likely. Nonu took the whole of the following season to recover. Folau will be as useful as JOC was after a season in Europe next year sadly.

I would agree with you Paul if rugby was popular in Japan but it isn't. You ask most Japanese who sbw, bekker or Frans Steyn are and mist ppl have no idea they are rugby stars who played a bit of footy there. Will be the same for Folau. The money is staggering though considering the jpy is pretty weak these days. Just shows what private investment can do to a sport even if the said sport is pretty low key in the country.

His market value will skyrocket I reckon. His quiet and polite manner will go over very well in Japan.

It is a lot but I suppose the main thing from Oz Rugbys perspective is that hes staying. They cant compete financially with Toulon & the big European clubs so I think this is a good compromise to keep him.

Jesus that's a LOT of rugby!