SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24: Israel Folau looks on during a Waratahs Super Rugby training session at David Phillips Sports Complex on May 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Super League club Catalans Dragons have been in talks with Israel Folau, according to multiple reports.

Ther Dragons reportedly reached out to Super League chief executive Robert Elstone to discuss the prospect of signing the exiled star.

According to UK publisher Total Rugby League, both parties are 'close to agreeing to terms.'

However, Elstone is undecided on whether Folaju should be allowed to play in the competition.

The decision will ultimately come down to the Rugby Football League, who have the power to register or knock back all player registrations.

Catalans are reportedly desperate to sign the 30-year old as soon as possible, with the Super League season kicking off on Thursday.

Currently banned from playing in the NRL, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys ruled out Folau's potential return late last year.

“The game is inclusive. Israel’s comments are not inclusive,” V’landys said late last year.

“When I was a kid and kids used to get bashed up because they were different, I used to go and defend them. And a lot of them, it’s because their role models or their peers made them that way.

“I have no tolerance for people that put other people’s lives [at risk] or [commit] violence. It’s a big statement to make. With due respect to Israel, what he says, young kids listen to. He is a role model. They act on it. And when you’re a kid at school and you get bashed up because you’re different, I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

5 COMMENTS

  1. ““The game is inclusive. Israel’s comments are not inclusive,” V’landys said late last year.”

    And banning Izzy from the game is being inclusive is it Peter ?

    I do not condone what Izzy said but he said it in a respectful way and he said it because it was his opinion based on his religion. For that reason alone, I find this action and the one from Yawnion completely unacceptable. The way to counter Izzy’s bias is through argument and intelligent debate not by banning him. Banning something simply drives it underground where it can fester and resurge in a far less acceptable way.

    That said, I do hope that Superleague let Catalans recruit him. Boy would that set the game up over there for a great season. Izzy and Sonny would light up the comp and become a massive draw card. Superleague now has a better opportunity for growth than at anytime in the last 100 years. I hope they grab it with both hands.

    Clubs wanting to join the English Superleague system now include, Toulouse, New York, Ottawa, and Red Star Belgrade. Have we managed to put a team in Perth yet ?

  2. Look I understand that his tweets were wrong but gee people these days are so over emotional, it’s like ‘oh no he hurt my feelings that tweet was gayphobic’….BUT we let players like Lodge play for the Broncos or Packer play when these guys did and should’ve spent time in jail for assault.
    There’s players who beat their wives players who go on drunken rampages, like the two Storm players in Bali and now C Scott.
    My point in you let people back in the game who were in jail for some hideous crimes against woman too but a tweet is a no no.
    The hypocrisy with all these SJW PC etc etc etc make me sick.

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