He expressed himself. Finally! Three days after arriving on French soil, where he will compete in the Super League under the colors of the Catalan Dragons of Perpignan, Israel Folau came out of his silence. An interview orchestrated entirely by his club which, faced with the controversy born of the player's arrival, had decided to cancel all the press conferences to avoid embarrassing questions.
As a reminder, the Australian rugby XV and XIII star had made homophobic comments on his Instagram account in April 2019: "Drunkards, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters, Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus can save you. A text that had shocked beyond the world of sport and caused his dismissal by the Australian federation. He hasn't played since that sad outing. And hadn't spoken again. Until this Wednesday.
đš INTERVIEW đš
The first interview of @ IzzyFolau since his arrival in Perpignan.
đœïž https://t.co/VnHzQv52OT pic.twitter.com/cRkfsoi6Bw
In the video, posted on the website and social networks of the Catalan club, the player remained very soft. Smiling, wearing his new Dragons jersey, Israel Folau shared his joy in finding the game. âI am very excited to return to this sport ( Editor's note: rugby league ) where I revealed myself. It's been 10 years since I played it anymore and I thank the Dragons club for welcoming me, for offering me this possibility. It's a big club. I can't wait to play for the Dragons. "
"I come here to play and have fun"
His first steps on the meadow are not yet announced. In lack of rhythm after ten months without playing, he should wait a bit before playing his first minutes of Super League, a private competition. "I come here to play rugby and have fun," he continues. I missed the game, the training routine. France is different from what I'm used to. With my wife we ââare delighted. "
Folau, who passed physical and medical tests on Monday before participating in the first sessions the next day, also said that he hoped to learn the language during his year in France (the XIII rugby season extends from February to November).
đ„ Back to the first training session of @ IzzyFolau #Dragons đ pic.twitter.com/NAM8GxfQkF
- Catalan Dragons (@DragonsOfficiel) February 5, 2020Framed by its leaders, the player obviously did not address the controversy and his homophobic remarks. He has no right to do so. The club of Perpignan stipulated in the contract that the player should not express his religious or political opinions under penalty of dismissal.
Presidents call for more firmness in Super League
In the video, President Bernard Guasch also spoke about this recruitment. âAfter many meetings, many discussions with the coach, with the manager, with my board of directors, we made the decision to give this great player a second chance. Because they had given him and his agent guarantees on what had happened and he did not want to go back on it. Above all, he wanted to look to the future. Restore his image and his personality and look back on his first love for rugby league. I understand the media but I accept my decision even if I do not share his ideas. "
The controversy is not yet over. Meeting on Wednesday in Salford, in the north of England, for a steering committee, the presidents of the other franchises of the Super League announced that "the board of directors (CA) accepts the legal terms of the federation" to authorize the recruitment of Folau.
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But the CA "voted unanimously to put in place measures that would allow the Super League greater authority to oppose controversial signatures like this in the future." Hull's English team president Neil Hudgell warned that he could sue the French franchise if Folau's arrival were to have a negative financial impact.