Tonga’s claim that controversial star Israel Folau has been cleared to make a sensational rugby league return and play for the Mate Ma’a has been shot down by the international governing body.
The Tongan National Rugby League (TNRL) dropped a bombshell on Monday, releasing a statement on their Facebook page that Folau and his brother John would feature in their end-of-year Tests against Great Britain and Australia.
Folau and new Tonga coach Frank Endacott even claimed in the statement that the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) had given the green light to a comeback.
But the RLIF have dismissed the TNRL’s post, saying they had not been formally asked to consider dual international Folau’s return.
“The Rugby League International Federation is aware of a media release issued by Tonga National Rugby League stating that Israel Folau has been ‘approved’ by the RLIF to represent Tonga in international matches,” it said in a statement.
“That statement is incorrect. The RLIF has not been formally asked to consider this matter.
“The RLIF will not be commenting further on this situation at this stage.”
RLIF deputy chairman and ARLC chairman Peter Beattie had earlier cast doubt over Folau’s return, saying the move hadn’t been mentioned by the international body.
“The RLIF has made no decision in relation to any registration request for Israel Folau,” he told AAP on Monday night.
“As a current member and deputy chair of the RLIF board, (as the ARLC representative), I can assure you that this has never been discussed or mentioned around the board table.”
Beattie had previously shut the door on an attempt by Folau to return to the NRL.
It ensures Folau can’t play for Tonga in next month’s World Cup Nines which is run by the NRL.
And Beattie, along with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg – who is also on the international body’s board – are set to stand in the way of Folau playing for Tonga in this year’s Tests if the RLIF put his return to a vote.
Beattie said back in June that former Brisbane and Melbourne NRL star Folau would not be welcomed back to league due to his controversial social media posts that landed him in hot water with Rugby Australia.
Four months ago Folau’s lucrative contract with Rugby Australia was controversially terminated for breaching its code of conduct.
Folau, 30, was deemed guilty of breaching the code over his social media posts which claimed homosexuals are going to hell.
However, it seems Folau is now attempting a comeback via Tonga, claiming in the Facebook statement that he had been cleared to play Great Britain in Hamilton on October 26 and the Kangaroos in Auckland on November 2.
“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to represent God, my family, my heritage and the people of Tonga,” Folau said.
“I am thankful that the RLIF have accepted my availability to play.”
The Folau situation adds another twist to the controversy already swirling around Tongan rugby league.
The TNRL are in the midst of a bitter dispute between their board and a number of NRL stars, led by Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita.
Over a dozen players have threatened to boycott the Test matches unless TNRL chairman George Koloamatangi and secretary Williams Edwards stand down after coach Kristian Woolf was sacked.
