ISRAEL FOLAU HAS bucked the trend of high-profile Wallabies leaving for Europe by signing a three year contract with the Australian Rugby Union.
Folau, 26, has played in all 29 Wallabies Tests over the past two seasons, scoring 17 tries in that time.
Advertisement
Folau is a brilliant fullback. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
And his future with Australia is secured after his re-signing was confirmed on Wednesday.
Folau was the 2014 John Eales Medallist and Super Rugby Player of the Year.
“I’ve already had so many great moments and experiences in rugby over the past few years, but I feel like I am still just scratching the surface of what I am capable of, which is something that really excites me,” he said in an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) statement.
“Michael Cheika has also created a team environment which players really want to be part of, and that for me was one of the most important things when weighing up my future.
“He has created a culture that is extremely hard to walk away from, but just as importantly, it’s an environment which challenges you every day to be a better player and person.
“In the end, there is still so much I want to achieve playing rugby in Australia and am thrilled to now have my contract sorted through until the end of 2018.”
Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika was delighted and is excited to see Folau grow and improve.
“Israel is one of rugby’s truly world-class individuals, and he is the type of person and player that you want setting the standards in any team environment,” he said.
“He has developed his game so much in the two and a half years since he initially joined the Waratahs, and I know he has a burning desire to continue growing as a player over the next few seasons.
“He works extremely hard at being the exceptional talent he is, and is someone all Australian rugby fans can be excited about seeing in the gold jersey for a long time yet.”
Good news for the Wallabies as a key man opts to stay in Australia
ISRAEL FOLAU HAS bucked the trend of high-profile Wallabies leaving for Europe by signing a three year contract with the Australian Rugby Union.
Folau, 26, has played in all 29 Wallabies Tests over the past two seasons, scoring 17 tries in that time.
And his future with Australia is secured after his re-signing was confirmed on Wednesday.
Folau was the 2014 John Eales Medallist and Super Rugby Player of the Year.
“I’ve already had so many great moments and experiences in rugby over the past few years, but I feel like I am still just scratching the surface of what I am capable of, which is something that really excites me,” he said in an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) statement.
“He has created a culture that is extremely hard to walk away from, but just as importantly, it’s an environment which challenges you every day to be a better player and person.
“In the end, there is still so much I want to achieve playing rugby in Australia and am thrilled to now have my contract sorted through until the end of 2018.”
Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika was delighted and is excited to see Folau grow and improve.
“Israel is one of rugby’s truly world-class individuals, and he is the type of person and player that you want setting the standards in any team environment,” he said.
“He works extremely hard at being the exceptional talent he is, and is someone all Australian rugby fans can be excited about seeing in the gold jersey for a long time yet.”
– First published 08.42
Huge blow for Springboks as Coenie Oosthuizen out of World Cup with neck injury
Peter Stringer features in this compilation of men who stopped Lomu
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Australia Home Bird israel folau Rugby Union Rugby World Come Test Series