The return to the rugby test of controversial former Wallaby Israel Folau took less than 30 minutes on Saturday before he was injured during Tonga’s 36-0 defeat to Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Folau came out on the field on the right side of Tonga in his first Test match since 2019.
The 33-year-old star scored 37 tries in 73 tries for Australia before returning to the rugby league amid controversy over homophobic posts on social media.
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Israel Folau of Tonga soon retired against Fijian after suffering an injury (Getty)
Folau played with the Catalan Dragons in the European Super League before returning to rugby with the Shining Arcs in professional competition in Japan this year.
Changes in World Rugby eligibility rules allowed him to return to the rugby test and he did so among nine players who made their debut in Tonga.
Folau left the field with a leg injury in the 27th minute and was replaced by Tima Fainga’anuku, who made his debut for Tonga the same day his brother Leicester were due to make their debut in the tests with New Zealand against Ireland.
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Fiji kept Tonga goalless, winning 36-0 (Getty)
Former All Black Charles Piutau, one of the highest paid players in British rugby, also made his debut in Tonga on Saturday.
This firepower was not enough to withstand the Fiji who were playing a test at home for the first time in almost three years.
Fiji made an explosive start, scoring three attempts to advance 19-0 after just 24 minutes.
Frenchman Tevita Ratuvua scored the first try in the seventh minute and winger Jiuta Wainiqolo added the second three minutes later.
Fiji took advantage of Tonga’s unstable grinding and alignment to control possession in the early stages of the match.
Center Kaliveti Ravouvou finished off a move that swept almost the entire field in the 24th minute for Fiji’s third attempt.
The play began when Fiji forgave a Tonga line-up five meters from their goal line and Ravouvou threw himself on the ball when it was deflected towards Tonga’s goal line.
Setareki Tuicuvu scored the first try of the second half after Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu’s early work and winger Vinaya Habosi completed the scoring with a pass from Suliasi Vunivalu.
Earlier, Nigel Ah-Wong scored an interception attempt two minutes from time to give Samoa a 31-26 victory over Australia A in the opening match of the tournament.
Samoa led 19-7 at the break, but Australia A bounced back to equalize 26-26 with a try from James Tuttle in the 77th minute.
Australia A launched the attack from the restart, but Ah-Wong snatched a pass from Lalakai Foketi and threw almost 80 yards to score the winning try, his second of the match.
Samoa opened the scoring after just five minutes with a try from Seilala Lam and extended their lead in the 21st minute with Ah-Wong’s first try.
Bac rower Fraser McReight scored for Australia before Samoa increased their lead to 19-7 at the break with a try from D’Angelo Leuila.
McReight’s second attempt and another by Ryan Longergan allowed Australia A to tie the score at half-time in the second half.
Samoa advanced again to 69 with a try from Jonathan Taumateine, advancing 26-19 until Tuttle’s final try and Ah-Wong’s second decided the match.
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