Super League should refuse the registration of Israel Folau if any club tries to sign the controversial Australian, according to Warrington Wolves chief executive, Karl Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick insists the Wire have absolutely no interest in entertaining a move for Folau, who is facing an uncertain future in Australian rugby union following Rugby Australia’s decision to terminate his contract after a series of homophobic, outspoken social media posts.
Numerous other sporting codes have since made it clear they would not allow Folau to be registered in their sport, including the NRL, who have taken a hard-line approach according to ARLC Chairman Peter Beattie.
“Israel Folau fails the NRL’s inclusiveness culture, which is a policy strongly supported by the ARLC,” Beattie recently said in a statement.
While it is unclear whether any Super League club would be able to finance a deal for Folau – or even if he would be open to coming to English Rugby League – Fitzpatrick has told League Express that the competition’s authorities must follow the approach of other governing bodies and inform Folau that he is not welcome.
“We have no interest whatsoever in signing Israel Folau,” Fitzpatrick said.
“His beliefs and values are polar opposite to ours at Warrington Wolves. I understand they are his own personal views, but he needs to keep them to himself and stop spouting that nonsense on social media. Super League should not entertain him and, should it occur, it refuse any requested registration.”
Folau was set to be one of the stars of this year’s upcoming Rugby World Cup, but it is now highly unlikely he will ever play for the Wallabies again.
The dual-code international has been in the news before for his outspoken views, which resurfaced again earlier this month when he said in an Instagram post that homosexuals would go to hell.
His comments have been met with a huge backlash in the mainstream media, and his rugby career – in either code – now looks to be over.
