Few athletes have had a career arc quite like Israel Folau’s—a trail that started in rugby league, moved to union, and then collided with a controversy that cost him his contract in Australia. Now playing in Japan, Folau’s story is as much about faith and legal battles as it is about sport. Here’s a fact-based look at where he stands today, what happened with his landmark settlement, and how his family has navigated the upheaval.

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Full name: Israel Folau ·
Settlement announced: 3 December 2019 ·
Requested compensation: AUD 14 million ·
Current team: Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan Rugby League One)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Rugby Australia terminated Folau’s contract in 2019 after an anti-gay social media post (BBC News)
  • The legal dispute was settled out of court on 3 December 2019 (ABC News)
  • Folau and Rugby Australia issued a joint statement confirming the settlement (Rugby Australia)
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Settlement reached on 3 December 2019, ending a legal fight that had been headed to the Federal Court (ABC News)
  • Folau initially rejected an earlier settlement offer estimated at nearly AUD 1 million (Reddit) – low confidence
4What’s next
  • Folau continues to play for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One
  • He remains active in ministry and faith-based projects with his wife Maria

Nine key facts about Israel Folau, drawn from the most reliable sources available.

Attribute Detail
Full name Israel Folau
Born 3 April 1989, Sydney, Australia
Position Fullback
Current team Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan Rugby League One)
Height 194 cm
Weight 103 kg
Spouse Maria Folau (m. 2017)
Children 4
Religion Christianity (evangelical)

Where Is Israel Folau Now?

Where does Izzy Folau live?

  • Israel Folau currently resides in Japan with his wife Maria and their four children, where he plays for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One. He moved to Japan in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted a planned contract in France.

What is Israel Folau doing now?

  • Beyond rugby, Folau continues to work with his church and co-leads a faith-based ministry called ‘The Called Out Ones’ with his wife. He also hosts ‘The Izzy and Maria Show’, which focuses on family and religious topics.
Bottom line: Folau is balancing a professional rugby career in Japan with an active ministry life alongside his wife Maria.

The implication: his current life reflects a deliberate attempt to compartmentalise sport and faith after the controversy.

What Religion Is Izzy Folau?

  • Israel Folau is a devout Christian (evangelical/Pentecostal). His religious convictions led him to post homophobic comments on social media in 2019, which ultimately triggered the contract termination by Rugby Australia (BBC News).
  • Folau has described his faith as the central driver of his life and decisions. He co-founded the ministry ‘The Called Out Ones’ with his wife Maria (ABC News).

“Folau argued that the termination of his contract was a case of religious discrimination.”

BBC News

The trade-off

Folau’s public stance created a irreconcilable rift with Rugby Australia’s inclusion policies, but also galvanised a support base that framed him as a religious‑freedom test case (ABC News).

The pattern: faith both drove his actions and became the legal lever in his dispute with the sport.

Did Israel Folau Get Paid Out After His Controversy?

The financial fallout from Folau’s sacking has been one of the most debated aspects of the saga. Here’s what is known and what remains unclear.

Three key numbers that frame the settlement.

Item Amount Source confidence
Folau’s initial claim against Rugby Australia AUD 14 million Tier 2 – reported by The Seattle Times
Earlier settlement offer reportedly rejected Nearly AUD 1 million Low – from Reddit (unverified)
Widely media‑reported final settlement figure AUD 8 million Low – from YouTube and Facebook (unverified)

Rugby Australia apologised to Folau as part of the confidential settlement (ABC News). The case was scheduled for the Federal Court before mediation produced an agreement on 3 December 2019 (ABC News). The exact payout remains confidential, but media speculation placed it in the range of AUD 1–8 million.

“Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and Folau issued a joint statement after reaching settlement.”

Rugby Australia

The catch

Because the settlement was confidential, no independent source can confirm the final figure. The AUD 8 million figure circulates on social media and YouTube but lacks corroboration from tier‑1 outlets.

The implication: the lack of transparency leaves the financial outcome permanently disputed.

What Happened to Maria Folau (Israel Folau’s Wife)?

Who is Israel Folau’s wife?

  • Maria Folau (née Tutaia) is a former New Zealand netball international. She retired from professional netball in 2020.
  • She married Israel Folau in 2017, and the couple have four children together (three sons and one daughter).
  • Maria co-hosts ‘The Izzy and Maria Show’ and is deeply involved in the couple’s faith‑based ministry.
Why this matters

Maria’s public profile adds another layer to the Folau narrative, especially as the couple presents a united front on religious and family values.

What this means: the Folau brand extends beyond rugby into a shared ministry and media platform.

What Is Israel Folau’s Current Rugby Team and Career?

How tall is Israel Folau?

  • Israel Folau stands at 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) and weighs 103 kg (227 lb).

What is Israel Folau’s net worth?

  • Estimated net worth is around $2 million, largely from playing contracts and endorsements before his career was disrupted. This figure is not independently verified.

Israel Folau current team

  • Folau plays as a fullback for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One.
  • He previously played for the NSW Waratahs, Wallabies, and represented Australia in both rugby league and rugby union.

His career has been marked by exceptional talent — he was a star in the NRL before switching codes — but also by the controversy that reshaped his path.

Timeline: Key Dates in Israel Folau’s Career

Eight milestones that trace Folau’s journey from Sydney schoolboy to the centre of a national debate.

Date/Period Event
April 1989 Born in Sydney, Australia
2007–2010 Played rugby league for Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos
2011–2012 Converted to rugby union, signed with NSW Waratahs
2013–2018 Represented Australia in rugby union (Wallabies), played Super Rugby
2019 Controversial social media post; Rugby Australia terminates contract in June 2019 (BBC News)
2019–2021 Played for Catalan Dragons (rugby league) and signed with Montpellier (rugby union) but contract voided due to COVID-19
December 2019 Settles legal case with Rugby Australia out of court (ABC News)
2023–present Signs with Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One

The pattern: each switch of code or country has been forced by external events, not solely by choice.

What’s Confirmed vs What’s Still Unclear?

Confirmed facts

  • Israel Folau plays for Urayasu D-Rocks as of 2025.
  • His height is 194 cm and weight 103 kg.
  • He married Maria Tutaia in 2017 and they have four children.
  • He is a practicing Christian and his religious views led to his sacking.
  • Rugby Australia terminated his contract in 2019 after his social media posts.
  • He reached a financial settlement with Rugby Australia in December 2019.

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth is not publicly verified.
  • Specific settlement amount is undisclosed, though reports cite approximately $1.2 million (low confidence).
  • His long-term plans after current contract are unknown.
  • Exact terms of his current contract with Urayasu D-Rocks are not public.
  • His future plans after rugby are undisclosed.
  • The specific legal arguments in the settlement remain confidential.

The catch: the confirmed list relies on publicly stated positions, but even those lack independent verification for key details.

Summary: The Bigger Picture

Israel Folau’s story is not just about a talented athlete who lost his contract — it’s a case study in how religious freedom, social media, and professional sport collide. While he has rebuilt his career in Japan, the legal and reputational costs for all sides were substantial. For Rugby Australia, the lesson was clear: managing player expression in the social media age requires unambiguous policies, or the price — both financial and cultural — can be steep.

For Australian rugby fans, the choice is between accepting the settlement as a pragmatic end to a divisive chapter, or viewing it as a missed opportunity to resolve the deeper tensions around inclusion and faith at the elite sporting level.

Additional sources

facebook.com, reddit.com, facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com, cbn.com, abc.net.au

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Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Israel Folau?

194 cm (6 ft 4 in).

What is Israel Folau’s net worth?

Estimated at around $2 million, though not independently verified.

Why did Israel Folau leave rugby union?

His contract was terminated by Rugby Australia in 2019 after he posted homophobic comments on social media. The matter was settled out of court in December 2019.

Is Israel Folau still playing rugby in 2025?

Yes, he plays for Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One.

What position does Israel Folau play?

Fullback.

Does Israel Folau have any children?

Yes, he and his wife Maria have four children: three sons and one daughter.

Why did Rugby Australia terminate Israel Folau’s contract?

Due to a social media post that was deemed to breach the sport’s inclusion policies. Folau argued it was religious discrimination (BBC News).

What is Israel Folau’s current team?

Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan Rugby League One).