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'Seen it all': Fans in disbelief over bizarre Israel Folau rumour

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Clive Palmer and Israel Folau, pictured here speaking to the media ahead of his return with Southport Tigers.
Clive Palmer and Israel Folau speak to the media ahead of his return with Southport Tigers. (Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

Fans have reacted with scepticism after it was revealed Israel Folau could be considering a shock move into politics.

According to multiple reports, the controversial cross-code footballer is believed to be weighing up an invitation to join Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

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Folau is said to be weighing up a tilt for the Senate in Queensland under the banner of the billionaire mining magnate's party.

The United Australia Party have refused to confirm or deny whether Folau had nominated himself.

The party closed its nomination forms on Monday and candidates are expected to be officially unveiled next week.

Either way, social media users were stunned to learn about Folau's potential career change.

Former Wallabies player and journalist Peter FitzSimons was among the many to express their disbelief, tweeting "Lord, spare us".

Israel Folau and Clive Palmer's unlikely partnership

Folau and Palmer formed an unlikely partnership this year when the billionaire backed Folau's bid to return to rugby league in Queensland.

The former Wallaby returned to league via a local team on the Gold Coast in a move was bankrolled by Palmer.

Folau's former team Catalans Dragons had blocked his attempts to try and play with the Southport Tigers after claiming that he reneged on the final year of his contract to return to Australia on compassionate grounds.

But Folau's legal team argued the French-based club repudiated its contract by failing to make payments to him after December 2020.

The QRL had previously indicated it would consider Folau's application to be registered "in line with its rules and processes", but Palmer threatened legal action if it didn't happen imminently.

"Israel doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs. He has never been charged with a criminal offence" Palmer said in a statement at the time.

Israel Folau, pictured here in action for the Southport Tigers against the Runaway Bay Seagulls.
Israel Folau in action for the Southport Tigers against the Runaway Bay Seagulls. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

"He loves his wife and his son. He has a rugby playing record second to none.

"If he is not registered by Wednesday, I believe he will issue an injunction in the Federal Court of Australia against the QRL for their discrimination against him on religious grounds."

However the saga was eventually resolved and Folau was allowed to play for Southport.

The 32-year-old last played rugby league in Australia in 2010 before pursuing a short-lived AFL career with expansion club GWS and then a rugby union career which included 73 Test appearances for Australia.

He returned to professional rugby league after reaching a legal settlement with Rugby Australia, who sacked him over controversial religious posts on social media that said "hell awaits" homosexuals.

Following his sacking and eventual payout from RA, Folau joined Super League club Catalans in January 2020.

The exiled Wallabies fullback is now set to return to rugby union in 2022 after signing for the Shining Arcs side in Japan's Top League.

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with AAP

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