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Former Rugby Player Israel Folau Looking To Enter Australian Politics

Former Rugby Player Israel Folau Looking To Enter Australian Politics

Folau is reportedly considering running for the Senate in Queensland with billionaire Clive Palmer​ and the United Australia Party.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Israel Folau is reportedly keen on entering Australian politics.

It's understood the former Wallaby is considering running for the Senate in Queensland with billionaire Clive Palmer and the United Australia Party.

Yes, the one from the TV commercials.

Clive Palmer.
PA

Cross-code star Folau has enjoyed stints in the NRL, AFL and rugby union, although his sporting career has been littered with controversies.

At the start of 2019, Folau was found to have breached Rugby Australia's code of conduct when he posted homophobic content on his social media channels.

Despite multiple warnings from Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle, he continued to violate the code of conduct with his religious Instagram posts which saw his four-year multi-million-dollar contract with the Wallabies torn up.

Things then took another ugly turn when Folau launched legal proceedings against the sport's governing body - a desperate move that ultimately came to nothing.

Israel Folau.
PA

With his union career in tatters, he then reached out to rugby league teams for a lifeline.

Thankfully for him, he found one in the Catalan Dragons - although the club received plenty of backlash for welcoming him in with open arms.

After leaving the Super League, there were rumours that Folau could be linked with a return to the NRL but that was shut down rather quickly by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys.

With an NRL second coming off the cards, Folau then signed with the Southport Tigers in the Gold Coast's local A-grade competition.

During his official unveiling, he sat beside - you guessed it - Clive Palmer.

The Aussie billionaire's mining company Minerology made a donation to the club in exchange for Folau being allowed to sign with them.

Now, six months on and the duo are teaming up again, this time to give Australian politics a red hot crack.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Rugby, afl, Israel Folau, Rugby Australia, Rugby Union, Rugby League, nrl, Australia, Politics