Catalans sign Israel Folau

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Today French-based Super League club Catalans Dragons confirmed the signing of former Australian Rugby player Israel Folau on a one year deal.

See below statements from the Catalans club, RFL and Super League CEO.

Catalans Dragons statement

Catalans Dragons are pleased to announce the signing of Israel Folau with immediate effect.

Folau, 30, has signed a 1 year contract with the club.

Israel Folau commented: "I acknowledge the views expressed by Super League and the Rugby Football League. I'm a proud Christian, my beliefs are personal, my intention is not to hurt anyone and I will not be making further public comment about them. I look forward to my return to the great game of Rugby League with the Catalans Dragons."

Folau was just 17 when he began his career in the NRL in 2007 with Melbourne, where he broke the record for most tries in a debut year. Named Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2007 and Dally M Centre of the Year in 2008, he moved to the Brisbane Broncos two years later.

He had a successful four-year career in the game, scoring 73 tries in 91 NRL games. He also represented Queensland in the State of Origin and Australia, becoming the youngest ever player to play for both teams.

He moved to rugby union with the Waratahs in 2013 after a two-year spell in Australian Rules (AFL). He made his international debut for Australia in 2013. Folau has been named Wallabies Player of the Year a record three times, in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Folau is the fourth highest try scoring Australian international player with 37 tries in 73 tests and he became in 2019 the record holder for most tries scored in Super Rugby history.

Catalans Dragons Chairman Bernard Guasch : "We want to give Israel a new opportunity to shine on the pitch. We do not support or agree with Israel's previously expressed and controversial views which are based upon his sincerely held religious belief. We do not share or condone those views and we are totally committed to our club and our sport being open and welcoming to everyone. We do not believe that those views should be publicly expressed, especially by a high-profile sports person. We have a signed agreement with the RFL. Any transgression will trigger an immediate termination of Israel's contract and a substantial fine for the club."

Rugby Football League statement

The RFL confirms that the registration of Israel Folau with the Catalans Dragons will not be prevented.

This is a difficult decision, as the RFL places a high value on the sport's reputation in prioritising Inclusion and Diversity - and deplores the player's previous comments.

However the moral responsibility for deciding whether to sign a player sits with individual clubs.

The player has not been charged or found guilty of any criminal offence.

However distasteful his previous comments, we don't believe that, under our current regulatory framework, these can prevent his participation in the sport.

We have sought and received reassurances from both the player and the club regarding future behaviour.

The RFL has taken and will continue to take action where any player breaches expected standards of behaviour while registered with a club, and comments that conflict with our commitment to Inclusion and Diversity across the game will not be tolerated.

Super League Executive Chairman Robert Elstone

Super League deplores the homophobic comments Israel Folau has made in the past, which squarely contradict our sport's core values.

I have sought the opinion of informed voices connected to our game, and the majority share my disappointment that one of our clubs has chosen to sign him.  

There is a strong feeling that the decision to sign him lets down many people connected to our sport.

I made Catalans Dragons aware of those views.

However, Super League does not have the authority to veto the registration of players and is satisfied by the due diligence carried out by The Rugby Football League.  

Israel Folau is a free agent, who has the right to work, and he has not been charged or found guilty of any criminal offence.

Catalans Dragons has assured Super League that strict guidelines are in place to prevent the player from repeating his comments.

They have also assured us that his contract will be terminated immediately should he do so.