Sale Sharks table massive deal for Israel Folau - reports

It is being reported in the UK that Sale Sharks have tabled to a massive deal in a bid to sign controversial Wallabies star Israel Folau.

Folau is yet to sign a new contract with Rugby Australia, with whom he is having much-publicised difficulties with in recent weeks.

While Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle has said there will be no official sanction for Folau’s social media comments over homosexuality, the union’s relationship with the star has soured.

In a fascinating tell-all column for the Players Voice last week, Folau said that he had multiple offers on the table and could easily walk away from Australian Rugby.

“There have been things written about me angling to get a release from my Rugby Australia deal to pursue an NRL contract. That simply isn’t true. There have been rugby offers from the UK, Europe and Japan that are way above anything I could earn in Australia.”

Continue reading below…

Watch the Short Ball: This week, Scotty, Mills and their special guest James McOnie discusses the fallout from Rugby Australia’s Chief Executive Raelene Castle statement regarding the Israel Folau saga and how Israel Folau is creating a divide within the sport.

The Rugby Paper are now reporting that Sale Sharks have offered the fullback £750,000 per annum ($1.37m Australian dollars) to make the switch to the Premiership.

With the continued media storm over Folau, a lucrative move out of Australia could be seen as attractive for the forthright star.

Such a move would however be complicated as his wife – Maria Folau – is a current part of the New Zealand netball team that competed in the Commonwealth Games.

If he were to move to Sale he would be joining up with fellow Wallaby James O’Connor.

Folau said he has offered to walk away from the rugby Australia, if the they felt he was damaging the game in the country.

“I love rugby union. It has allowed me to travel all over the world and meet some fascinating people along the way.

“I do not want to bring hurt to the game and want as many people playing it as possible, so when I spoke to Raelene about walking away, it was to help the game, not harm it, in the event we couldn’t come to an understanding.”

Watch: Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby CEO Andrew Hore react to Israel Folau’s controversial social media comments