How does a sport get everything it has ever wanted without courting some controversy along the way? That is a question rugby league has spent the past fortnight arguing about with itself. Practically since the sport was created in 1895, rugby league has craved a greater slice of the spotlight and pushed for mainstream media attention on a wider scale.
This weekend league will get its moment when Super League’s most controversial signing makes his debut in Perpignan. Israel Folau’s arrival at Catalans Dragons sparked a spike of interest in league that many of the sport’s devoted fans have desired for decades – but this is a true test of whether there is actually such a thing as bad publicity.
Written by Aaron Bower
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/14/israel-folau-rugby-league-aaron-bower under the title “Israel Folau debut gives rugby league the spotlight it craves but at a cost | Aaron Bower”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
