Super League will learn from Israel Folau saga, says chief Robert Elstone

Super League chief executive Robert Elstone says they will learn from the saga surrounding Catalans centre Israel Folau.

Folau, 30, has dominated the headlines since he penned a one-year deal to join the Dragons on the eve of the season.

That prompted some club owners to blast the move, and it was top of the agenda on a summit of Super League chairman in Salford the following week.

A statement issued from Elstone’s office said that they accepted the legalities around the RFL’s decision to register the former Rugby Australia star, but that they would work to put measures in place to prevent such controversy in the future.

Rugby Australia had previously been forced to settle out of court with Folau, after he challenged their sacking of him on the grounds of unfair dismissal.

Since then, Folau’s debut for Catalans at home to Castleford courted significant media attention, not least when visiting Tigers fans claimed to have been prevented from displaying a rainbow flag at the game, an accusation the French club have since denied.

Speaking at the Man of Steel launch, Elstone said: “It’s something we’re on with, we’re looking closely at what we can and can’t do. We are taking some legal advice, we’re talking to the RFL, we’re talking internally as a Super League board as a group of clubs.

“It’s something we’re committed to looking at, it’s something we’re committed to learning from.

“There’s another board meeting in three or four weeks time, and it’s very much on the agenda to see what is possible.

“It’s a challenging area, we all debated over it long and hard, we have a very different range of opinions.

“My personal opinion is made very clear, the majority of clubs were on board with that view, what we need to do is reflect on it, learn from it, and put in place whatever we can so that if it comes around again, we’re in a better place to deal with it.”