Catalans Dragons have shot down reports that dual-code Australian international Israel Folau has turned his back on the club and could be leaving the Super League.
The 31-year-old returned home at the end of last season with his wife and new-born baby and has yet to report back to the French club.
That, in turn, prompted speculation that the former Wallaby will not honour his contract, which he extended to the end of 2021 last July.
But Dragons coach Steve McNamara told the PA news agency he has kept in regular dialogue with Folau, who remains committed to the club but needs to remain in Australia for personal reasons as well as restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“He’s got a family situation and we’re working together on that,” McNamara said.
“We’re constantly speaking, we’re monitoring the situation as best we can.”
In a statement, the Dragons said: “The club and Israel Folau have been in constant dialogue since Christmas regarding a personal family situation.
“This, along with Covid restrictions, are currently preventing his return to France.”
The centre initially joined the Catalans on a 12-month deal, despite opposition from both Super League and a majority of clubs who were concerned over views he had expressed on subjects like homophobia.
Folau’s contract with Rugby Australia was terminated in 2019 after he said “hell awaits” gay people in a social media post. He subsequently took legal action and reached a settlement.
He was thrown a lifeline by the Dragons and, after scoring on his Super League debut last February, played a key role as they reached the play-off semi-finals.
The Catalans players have yet to report back for training after the schedule was put on hold due to heightened COVID-19 restrictions.
In brief
Guest
I honestly don’t recall Izzy making any comments re homophobia
mushi
Roar Guru
Likewise not a surprise to find the bottom feeder back at the troll trough. You might want to look up virtue signalling, your original post about persecution is a decent example. Please don't go wetting any beds over Izzys persecution.
Plastered Plasterer
Guest
Wow , what a surprise that one of the roars resident bed wettters would come in with some predictably lame virtyou signalling. I hope you’re enjoying AUSTRALIA DAY.
Walter Black
Guest
No Jamaal, you are the only person on here who shows complete disrespect for a sport that gives many people around the world a lot of pleasure. For numerous reasons, Rugby League is not a big international sport, I do not deny that. In fact I call it one of the world's best kept secrets and it has certainly been one of the world's most politically attacked sports. But to deny what it does have as you constantly do belittles only yourself not Rugby League.
Walter Black
Guest
According to wikipedia and Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII - the French Governing Body, there are currently around 30,000 registered players in France. Hmmm, strange as it may seem - you are wrong again Jamaal
Walter Black
Guest
There have been a few occasions in my life when I have been intimately involved in something that the media has been keen to report on. When I say intimately involved I mean that I was one of only a handful of people who really knew what had gone on and who had said what. In everyone of those cases that I read about in the press but knew the real story, it was like reading a fairy tale. The actual facts that they reported that were correct were few but then blown out of all proportion throughout the rest of the story. It all went to prove to me that you had to take any new story with several pinches of salt.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. He probably paid for a buss class seat which ensured the airline didn't bump him off the flight.
Yep some seem to be treated different to others thats for sure....And money seems to be the only difference...
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
nahmate, justpeople have been waiting 8 months to get home & still sruck OS, but if you're an athlete seems likr you get a gold pass for travel
mushi
Roar Guru
The worst one was a joke about a go fund me page... That is a leap to get to bullied persecution, even for your addled mind
mushi
Roar Guru
The headlines on the roar are often misleading
mushi
Roar Guru
Look I'm not a fan of Folau's views or motivations but this seems something about nothing.
Paul
Roar Guru
This entire piece comes down to the following 4 paragraphs; “He’s got a family situation and we’re working together on that,” McNamara said. “We’re constantly speaking, we’re monitoring the situation as best we can.” In a statement, the Dragons said: “The club and Israel Folau have been in constant dialogue since Christmas regarding a personal family situation. “This, along with Covid restrictions, are currently preventing his return to France.” The rest is just waffle. Such poor writing.
i hear he did his 2 weeks in quarantine Kent....Did you want more from him?
Au revior Monsieur rich clown to you!!!
Also Albo it actually states that Covid is stopping him from returning to France too.....Definately fake news...
Albo
Roar Rookie
I would not be at all surprised, plastered ! The website looks interesting too !
Plastered Plasterer
Guest
If you’ve got Tubi ... watch a doco about I.F Stone. You may be surprised at how fake the majority of the mainstream news is. It’s not available on the ABC Max , so you’ll have to miss out this time.
Plastered Plasterer
Guest
Yes you do . Cmon admit it.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The article is headlined "Has Israel Folau skipped out on Super League?" . Then in the article it says that Folau is in regular contact with the coach who states Folau remains committed to the Dragons but due to a family issue and the covid restrictions is yet to return to France. And furthermore , none of the Dragons players have returned to training yet due to covid impacts on the schedule ! They don't even know when they are next playing with covid over there. If I was Folau, I would be staying here too for now.