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Israel Folau hasn’t put rumours of a move to the Queensland Reds to bed after speaking with the media on Tuesday ahead of the Waratahs Super Rugby quarter-final against the Highlanders this weekend.
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The Wallabies full-back said he had “so many options”, which may set off alarm bells at the Waratahs.
The outside back is off-contract at the end of the year with Rugby Australia and has indicated he has had lucrative overseas offers during the media firestorm surrounding his social media comments. The former NRL player represented Queensland five times in State of Origin and played for the Brisbane Broncos before making a code-switch to the AFL. A move to the Reds would bring Folau back to Brisbane.
“I know there’s rumours going round, but not from my end in the sense that my management are taking control of that”, Folau said.
“So it’s a bit of white noise in the background, but nothing to worry about from my end.”
Folau joined the Waratahs in 2013 and won a Super Rugby title with the club in 2014.
“There’s no timeline. I’m just going to take my time and see what best for me.”
“There’s so many options I guess from my point of view, that I’ll have a look at once the season comes to an end. But at this stage I’m just thinking about the game on the weekend.”
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In other news: Amanaki Mafi appears in court after incident with teammate.
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Folau, who has scored nine Super Rugby tries this season added there were a lot of factors to consider.
“My family and where I’m at at this time of my career, I’m not even thinking about it at the moment,” the 29-year-old said.
Rugby Australia are keen to retain one of their best players, who remains a big part of Michael Chieka’s 2019 Rugby World Cup plans but have had no further talks on his contract since Folau’s controversial social media comments.
In May Folau’s wife tweeted dissatisfaction over Folau’s switch to the wing by Waratahs during the loss to the Blues, indicating there may be some disagreement between his current side’s plans and Folau’s desire to play fullback.
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https://twitter.com/MariaFolau/status/992727849978155009
Folau courted controversy earlier this year over social media comments suggesting that God’s plan for gay people is “HELL… unless they repent of their sins and turn to God”.
