Israel Folau facts for kids

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Israel Folau

Personal information
Full name	ʻIsileli Folau
Born	(1989-04-03) 3 April 1989 (age 36) Minto, New South Wales, Australia
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.94 m)
Weight	227 lb; 16 st 3 lb (103 kg)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Centre, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2007–08 Melbourne Storm 52 36 5 0 154 2009–10 Brisbane Broncos 39 37 0 0 148 2020 Catalans Dragons 15 5 0 0 20 Total 106 78 5 0 322 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2010 NRL All Stars 1 0 0 0 0 2008–10 Queensland 5 5 0 0 20 2007–09 Australia 8 6 0 0 24
Rugby union
Position	Fullback, Wing, Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2013–2019 New South Wales Waratahs 96 60 0 0 300 2021– Urayasu D-Rocks 20 16 0 0 80 Total 116 76 0 0 380 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2013–2019 Australia 73 37 0 0 185 2022– Tonga 2 0 0 0 0
Australian rules football
Position	Utility
Club Years Team Pld G 2011–2012 Greater Western Sydney 13 2
As of 14 July 2023
Relatives	John Folau (brother)

Israel ‘Isileli Folau, born on April 3, 1989, is a professional rugby player. He is known for playing both Rugby league and Rugby union. He currently plays as a fullback for the Japan Rugby League One club Urayasu D-Rocks. Even though he was born in Australia, he now plays for the Tonga at an international level. He was able to do this because of new rules about player eligibility.

Folau started his professional career in rugby league. He played for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) from 2007 to 2008. During this time, he set a new record for scoring the most tries in his first year. After that, he played with the Brisbane Broncos from 2009 to 2010. He played as a winger or centre. Folau also represented Queensland in the State of Origin and played for Australia. He became the youngest player to play for both teams. In 2020, Folau played for the French rugby league team, the Catalans Dragons, in the Super League.

In 2011, Folau switched sports and joined the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for two seasons there. In December 2012, Folau decided to switch sports again, this time to rugby union. He signed a contract with the Waratahs. He later became the player with the most tries scored in Super Rugby history after the 2019 season. For international rugby union, he first played for Australia in 2013 against the British & Irish Lions. He played in 73 matches for Australia. In 2022, Folau changed his international team to represent Tonga. This was possible because World Rugby changed its rules about which country players can represent.

Early Life and School Years

Folau was born in Minto, Australia. His parents, Eni and Amelia, are from Tonga. He went to Lurnea Public School and Westfields Sports High School. In 2004, his family moved to Brisbane, Queensland, because his father found work there.

In Brisbane, Folau attended Marsden State High School. While there, he was chosen for the Queensland Schoolboys team in the Australian Under-15 Championships. He also played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2006. Folau also played junior rugby league for several seasons with the Goodna Eagles in Goodna.

A scout from the Melbourne Storm saw Folau play at the Australian championships. He was invited to play junior football with the Storm's partner club, the Norths Devils. He won a championship with Norths. He also became the first player to represent Queensland Under-19's when he was only 16 years old. In 2006, while in Year 12 at Marsden State High School, Folau was chosen for the Australian Schoolboys squad. This team toured Wales, England, and France. Folau played very well for Australia. At the end of the tour, he won the Australian Secondary School Rugby Leagues (ASSRL) Award for the best back player. Because he played so well against older players, Melbourne Storm felt confident giving him a chance in the NRL.

Rugby League Career

Israel Folau leaving the field following the pre-match warm-up, 15 August 2008

Playing for Melbourne Storm

Israel Folau in 2008

2007 Season Highlights

Folau was only 17 years old when he played his first game in the 2007 NRL season. He started earlier than his coach, Craig Bellamy, had planned. He played as a replacement for an injured player. In his very first game, he scored the winning try to help Melbourne beat the Wests Tigers 18–16.

After such a strong start, Folau played in every game of the season. He was the only Melbourne player to do so in 2007. He played excellently on the wing. His coach, Craig Bellamy, sometimes moved him to the centre position. This gave him more chances to get the ball and score points. By the end of the regular season, Folau had scored 21 tries and 5 goals, totaling 94 points. His 21 tries made him the joint top try-scorer for the 2007 regular season.

In his first year, Folau broke several club and NRL records. The most important was breaking his teammate Billy Slater's record for most tries in a debut season. Slater had scored 19 tries in 2003. Folau finished his amazing first season by winning the 2007 Dally M Rookie of the Year Award. He was also part of the successful 2007 Melbourne Storm premiership team. This team only lost three matches all year. However, this championship was later taken away because of rules about player salaries.

After an injury to a Brisbane Broncos player, Folau joined the Australian test side. He played against New Zealand on October 14, 2007. In his first international game, Folau became the youngest player ever to represent Australia. He was 18 years and 194 days old. He broke the record set by Brad Fittler in 1990. Folau then scored two tries in Australia's big 58–0 win over New Zealand.

2008 Season Highlights

In 2008, Matt King left the Storm to play in England. Folau took his place as the starting centre for Melbourne. After seven games of the 2008 season, Folau was chosen to play for Australia again. He played on the wing in the Centenary Australia vs. New Zealand test. He scored a try in Australia's 28–12 win.

Folau was then chosen to play as a winger for the Queensland State of Origin Team. He made his debut for Queensland on May 21, 2008. In the last few minutes of the game, Folau scored a try. Queensland lost 18–10 to New South Wales. Folau kept his spot for Game II. He scored one of Queensland's four tries in their big win, which tied the series. In the final game, Game III, Folau scored two impressive tries. He was named the Man of the Match in Queensland's 16–10 win.

At the end of the 2008 season, Folau won the Dally M Centre of the Year award. He was part of the Melbourne Storm team that won the minor premiership for the second year in a row. He also played in his second Grand Final, where they lost to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Earlier in the year, on March 30, 2008, it was announced that Folau had signed with the Brisbane Broncos for the 2009 NRL season. Folau decided to leave Melbourne Storm to be closer to his family in Brisbane.

In October 2008, Folau was chosen to play for the Kangaroos in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Folau scored two tries in Australia's first game against New Zealand. He played in Australia's big wins over England and Fiji. On November 22, he played in his first World Cup Grand Final for Australia. However, Australia lost 34–20 to New Zealand.

Folau received the Rugby League International Federation 2008 Rookie of the Year award.

Playing for Brisbane Broncos

Israel Folau playing for Australia in 2008

Folau was a big new player for the Broncos. This happened when several important players and coach Wayne Bennett left the club.

2009 Season Highlights

Folau played his first game for the Brisbane Broncos in the first round of the 2009 season. He scored the team's first try in a 19–18 win. The next week, Folau scored first again in a game against his old club, the Melbourne Storm. He jumped high to catch the ball and score the first try in the Broncos' 16–14 win. This was the club's first home win against the Storm since 2005. Folau kept scoring tries, averaging one try per game by Round 10. He scored four tries in one game against the Gold Coast Titans in May. This tied the record for most tries in a single game for the Brisbane Broncos.

He was chosen to play for Australia in a special game against New Zealand on May 8, 2009.

In April 2009, he was named in the team to represent Queensland in the first game of the 2009 State of Origin series. He was chosen to play on the wing. He also played in Game 2, scoring a try. He missed Game 3 because of an injury.

2010 Season Highlights

Even though he signed with the AFL during the year, Folau was chosen and played in all three Origin games in 2010. He continued to score many tries, getting 17 tries from 16 matches with the Brisbane Broncos. However, his rugby league career ended sooner than expected. The Brisbane Broncos did not make the finals for the first time in over ten years. Folau was also not chosen to play for Australia in the Four Nations tournament. The Australian Rugby League did not allow him to play for Tonga in a warm-up game. He was also not allowed to be a coach for the Tongan team.

Catalans Dragons

In January 2020, Folau signed a one-year deal to play rugby league for the Catalans Dragons. He played fifteen games for the Dragons and scored five tries. After this, Folau left the team. He was planning to play for the Southport Tigers in Australia before playing rugby union in Japan. However, the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) did not allow him to play just three days before his first game.

Rugby League Statistics

•      means the team won the National Rugby League (NRL) championship that season.
•      means the team played in the NRL finals series that season.
•      means the team played in the Super League finals series that season.

Team	Comp.	Season	Matches					Disc.		Goals		Tries	Points	Try ratio
			P	W	D	L	%	SB	SO	G	FG
Melbourne Storm	NRL	2007	27	24	0	3	89	N/A		5	0	21	94	0.778
		2008	25	19	0	6	77	N/A		N/A		15	60	0.600
Brisbane Broncos		2009	19	13	0	6	68	N/A		N/A		17	68	0.894
		2010	20	10	0	10	50	N/A		N/A		20	80	1.000
NRL Total			91	66	0	25	73	N/A		5	0	73	302	0.802
Catalans Dragons	Super League	2020	15	9	0	6	60	N/A		N/A		5	20	0.333
Total			106	75	0	31	71	N/A		5	0	78	322	0.736
Team	Comp.	Season	P	W	D	L	%	SB	SO	G	FG	Tries	Points	Try ratio
			Matches					Disc.		Goals

Australian Rules Football Career

Israel Folau
Folau (left) in an AFL match against the Gold Coast Football Club at Manuka Oval during the 2012 season.
Personal information
Debut	24 March 2012, Greater Western Sydney v. Sydney, at ANZ Stadium
Position(s)	Centre half-forward / Utility

Playing for Greater Western Sydney

Folau's contract with the Brisbane Broncos was ending in 2010. He was considering playing for the Melbourne Rebels rugby union team. He was also linked to the Greater Western Sydney Giants, an Australian Football League (AFL) team. After offers from rugby league, rugby union, and Australian rules football, Folau signed with the new AFL team, Greater Western Sydney. This deal was reportedly worth a lot of money over four years.

2011 Season

Folau started his Australian rules football career in the North East Australian Football League. He played for the Greater Western Sydney Giants. At first, he played in defense and found it hard to make an impact. But when GWS coach Kevin Sheedy moved him to the forward line, his performance got better. He even scored 4 goals in one game.

2012 Season

Folau played his first AFL game in the Greater Western Sydney Giants' very first match in the competition. This was against the Sydney Swans in Round 1, 2012.

At the start of the season, Israel Folau was chosen as one of 10 players to be Multicultural Ambassadors for the AFL. The AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, said they were excited to give these players a chance to be leaders. They would help promote being inclusive and diverse in the community.

Folau ended his AFL career at the end of the 2012 season. He had limited success on the field. Off the field, people had different opinions on whether the attention around him helped the Giants and the AFL.

Australian Rules Football Statistics

Rugby Union Career

Playing for New South Wales Waratahs

2013-2014 Seasons

Folau with the New South Wales Waratahs

Folau against the Sunwolves in 2019.

In December 2012, it was announced that Folau was changing sports again. He joined the Sydney-based New South Wales Waratahs rugby union team for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He also said he wanted to play for the Australia national rugby team. This was also the first season for the new coach, Michael Cheika. Some coaches wondered how the Waratahs could afford Folau under the salary cap rules. Many players and coaches compared Folau's possible positive impact in rugby union to that of another player who switched from league to rugby, Sonny Bill Williams.

In early 2013, Folau talked about his training with the Waratahs. He said he was training to play both fullback and wing. Folau also said he was happy to get advice from Lote Tuqiri, who had also played both league and union. Folau scored two tries in a practice game against the Melbourne Rebels.

Folau's first Super Rugby game for New South Wales was against their rivals, Queensland. This was in the second round of the season on February 23, 2013. Folau scored his first try for the Waratahs in the forty-seventh minute. The Waratahs lost the game 25–17. Folau's first home game with the Waratahs was in the third round against the Melbourne Rebels. The Waratahs won the match 31–26.

By the end of the season, Folau had played in fourteen of the sixteen matches for the New South Wales Waratahs. He scored eight tries, which was tied for second most tries that season. However, the Waratahs did not make it to the finals. They finished third in their Australian group and ninth overall. The Waratahs had an equal record of eight wins and eight losses. A month after the season, Folau was chosen for the Australia squad. They played against the British & Irish Lions during their 2013 tour of Australia.

2015-2016 Seasons

In July 2015, he signed a deal to play for NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in Japan. However, Folau did not play for the club because of an injury. Also, the team was moved down to the Japanese second division.

Folau has won the Rugby Australia John Eales Medal three times. This award is for the Wallabies' Player of the Year. He won it in 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Playing in Japan

2021-2022 Seasons

On July 5, 2021, it was reported that Folau had switched back to rugby union. He joined the Japanese club Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu. When he returned to rugby union, Folau scored two tries against Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the first round of the 2022 Japan Rugby League One. The Shining Arcs won the game 23–24.

Rugby Union Statistics

•      means the team won the Super Rugby championship that season.
•      means the team played in the finals series that season.

Team	Comp.	Season	Matches					Disc.		Tries	Points	Try ratio
			P	W	D	L	%	Yel.	Red
New South Wales Waratahs	Super Rugby	2013	14	7	0	7	50	0	0	8	40	.571
		2014	14	12	0	2	86	1	0	12	60	.857
		2015	17	11	0	6	65	0	0	5	25	.294
		2016	15	8	0	7	53	1	0	11	55	.733
		2017	15	4	0	11	27	0	0	9	45	.600
		2018	14	7	1	6	50	0	0	11	55	.786
		2019	7	3	0	4	43	0	0	4	20	.571
Super Rugby Total			96	52	1	43	54	2	0	60	300	.625
Shining Arcs	League One – D1	2022	14	3	0	11	21	0	0	10	50	.714
Urayasu D-Rocks	League One – D2	2022–23	6	4	0	2	67	0	0	6	30	1.000
		2023–24	2	2	0	0	100	0	0	1	5	.500
	League One – D1	2024–25	To be determined.
Total			118	61	2	56	52	2	0	77	385	.653
Team	Comp.	Season	P	W	D	L	%	Yel.	Red	Tries	Points	Try ratio
			Matches					Disc.

International Rugby Union

Playing for Australia

Folau made his first international appearance for Australia against the British & Irish Lions. This was during their 2013 tour of Australia. Folau scored the first try of the game in the first match of the series. He scored twice on June 22 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland.

In the 2013 Autumn tour, Folau scored his tenth try of the season against Wales. This tied the record of Lote Tuqiri.

Folau is the fourth highest try-scoring Australian international player. Only Adam Ashley-Cooper, Chris Latham, and David Campese have scored more.

Playing for Tonga

In 2021, World Rugby changed the rules for players who had already played for another country. The new rule allowed players to play for a second country if they had a "stand-down period of three years," among other things. Because of this rule change and Folau's family links, he was allowed to play for Tonga starting in 2022. Coach Toutai Kefu was very interested in having Folau play for Tonga. He said, "We'd definitely be interested... We're not in a position to bypass players of Israel's calibre. We'd welcome him with open arms." Folau also said he was eager to play for Tonga.

In 2022, it was thought that Folau would play for Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup. This tournament would include Australia A. After the four-team Pacific Nations Cup was confirmed for July 2022, Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said Folau's eligibility was being reviewed. He hoped to have Folau play in the tournament. On May 27, 2022, it was announced that Folau was chosen for the Tonga squad. He was joined by other well-known former New Zealand international players.

Folau played his first international game for Tonga in the first round (July 2, 2022) of the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup. This game was against Fiji. Folau had to leave the game after about half an hour because of a hamstring injury. Folau and Tonga did not score any points and lost 36–0.

Sponsorships

In 2009, Folau received sponsorships from Adidas and Powerade. In 2013, he was sponsored by Goodman Fielder.

His sponsorship deal with ASICS ended in 2019. This happened after he was found to have broken Rugby Australia's player rules.

Personal Life

Israel Folau with Dwayne Johnson and Will Skelton in 2014

Folau has one sister and four brothers. His younger brother, John Folau, also plays rugby union.

"Israel Folau Street" was named in his honor in October 2010. This street is in a suburb of Goodna, Queensland, where Folau played junior rugby league.

On October 23, 2016, Folau announced he was engaged to New Zealand netball player Maria Tuta'ia. They got married outdoors on a private property in Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales on November 15, 2017.

Religious Views

Folau grew up as a Mormon. In 2011, he became an active member of the Assemblies of God Christian church. His father, Eni Folau, is a pastor. Folau has said that his relationship with God is a reason for his success in sports. In a 2017 article, Folau wrote that he reads the Bible every day. He also said that his faith in Jesus Christ is the "cornerstone of every single thing in my life." He believes it is a loving thing to share parts of the Bible with others. He does this when people ask him about his faith or life. Folau has been described as a fundamentalist Christian.

Honors and Awards

Individual Awards

Rugby League

• 2007: Dally M Rookie of the Year
• 2007: Australian Young Performer of the Year (Fairfax Sports Performer Awards)
• 2007: International Newcomer of the Year (RLIF Awards)
• 2008: State of Origin Man-of-the-Match (Game 3, 2008)
• 2008: Dally M Centre of the Year

Team Achievements

Rugby League

• 2007: NRL Premiers (Melbourne Storm) (stripped)
• 2008: NRL Minor Premiers (Melbourne Storm) (stripped)

Rugby Union

• 2014: Super Rugby Winners (New South Wales Waratahs)

Representative Honors

Rugby League

• 2007: All-time Youngest Australian International Player (18 years and 194 days)
• 2007–09: Australian Kangaroos Test Squad (3 Tests)
• 2008: Australian Rugby League World Cup Squad (5 Matches)
• 2008–10: Queensland State of Origin Squad (8 Matches)

Rugby Union

• 2015: Rugby Championship Winners

National Rugby League Records

• 2007: Most Tries in a Debut Season (21)

Images for kids

• 

  Israel Folau playing for Catalans Dragons in 2020.

• 

  Israel Folau leaving the field following the pre-match warm-up, 15 August 2008.

• 

  Israel Folau in 2008.

• 

  Israel Folau playing for Australia in 2008.

• 

  Folau (left) in an AFL match against the Gold Coast Football Club at Manuka Oval during the 2012 season.

• 

  Folau with the New South Wales Waratahs.

• 

  Folau against the Sunwolves in 2019.

• 

  Israel Folau with Dwayne Johnson and Will Skelton in 2014.

See also

In Spanish: Israel Folau para niños