Israel Folau - the man who was sacked by Rugby Australia ahead of the World Cup in 2019 - can quickly remerge as one of the best rugby players in the world.
That’s the opinion of former Wallaby Liam Gill, who on Saturday will line-up alongside Folau for NTT Communications Shining Arcs against Kobe Steelers.
“Izzy has just picked up where he left off,” Gill told foxsports.com.au.
“I dare say once he plays this season of the Japanese League One, he’ll be considered one of the best in the world again.
As Rugby Australia attempts to work out who will grab the No.15 jersey and wear it in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, 32-year-old Folau will run out in Japan.
It will be his first rugby match since Rugby Australia terminated his multi-million-deal in early 2019, for what the governing body deemed homophobic remarks on social media.
His controversial sacking not only began an ugly chain of events, which ultimately ended in RA accepting an undisclosed settlement fee thought millions, but divided the Wallabies in half.
The ugly fiasco dragged on for a year and critically was a major disruption in former coach Michael Cheika’s World Cup plans. The Wallabies were dumped out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stages by England - their worst result at the tournament.
After a brief stint back in rugby league for French side Catalans Dragons and The Southport Tigers in the Queensland Cup, Folau signed a two-year-deal for the Shining Arcs in July estimated to be around $500,000 - half the wage he was on with RA.
Folau is under no uncertain terms in his contract that he will not post religious messages on his social media accounts.
He has not published on Instagram a religious post since August 1, 2019.
Nor has there been a clearing of the air at his new Japanese club, with the Shining Arcs welcoming Folau with open arms.
“Regarding clearing the air, we’ve never really touched on anything,” Gill said.
“He touched down here at the end of October, came into the team and we all just kind of kept on as per usual.”
Gill, who left Australian rugby in 2016 and played 15 Tests for the Wallabies, described Folau as “one of the loveliest guys you’ll meet”.
“I never really had anything to do with what happened and I never really had too much time with him in the Wallabies because I was in and out quick,” Gill said. “But he was a lovely guy back then and he still is an incredibly lovely person.
“He just came in, went on as usual, gets along with everyone and is absolutely freakish on the field.
“Pens (former Waratahs coach Rob Penney) hasn’t addressed anything, (former Wallabies World Cup-winner) Matty Cockbain hasn’t needed to address anything either, so it’s just one of those cases where we’re pretty bloody thankful to have him in the team.
“He’s a lovely person. He lives in the same unit block as we do and he’s got a lovely family, so we’ve all just loved the fact he’s come here and got on with it and pretty excited to have him play the season with us.”
Former Wallabies great Toutai Kefu plans on calling up Folau for Tonga’s World Cup qualification this year after World Rugby changed their eligibility laws late last year to help strengthen emerging nations.
Kefu said having access, as well as up to 20 others, was a “game-changer”.
Folau - the three-time John Eales Medalist and the former poster boy of Australian rugby - will wear the No.15 jersey on Saturday in their opening match of the season.
Kefu’s World Cup-winning teammate Cockbain, who joined the Arcs ahead of the season and has linked up with sacked Waratahs coach Penney, said Folau was in terrific shape.
“He looks as physically strong as I’ve ever seen him look,” Cockbain said.
Wallabies great Will Genia said the Japanese community would judge Folau on his deeds going forward.
“He’s a great guy,” Genia said. “Regardless of all that’s gone on.
“He’s always been humble, hard working and genuinely kind to people.”
