Folau expected to re-sign with Catalans

Catalans officials are confident Israel Folau will extend his stay with the French Super League club for the 2021 season after rejecting approaches to return to rugby union.

Folau played just three matches for Catalans before the Super League season was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions but has since attracted interest from French Top 14 rugby union clubs, including Montpellier.

NRL clubs are also believed to have been monitoring his progress.

However, Catalans president Bernard Guasch told L’Indépendant newspaper he expected Folau to sign a new one-year deal and remain with the Perpignan-based club.

"We've been talking to him for 10 days now," Guasch said.

"We offered him two more years and then finally a year. We asked him to be patient with the circumstances and in front of us we found a clear, reasonable man who is interested to stay."

Guasch also took a swipe at critics who opposed the club signing Folau after his controversial sacking by Rugby Australia and indicated the 31-year-old still had ambitions to eventually return to the NRL.

"I'm surprised to see all those people who pointed the finger at us when Folau signed with the Dragons now making proposals to him," he said.

"His three matches with us were enough to see people change their opinions.

"I understand that he may have other desires to finish his career elsewhere after the two or three seasons he will spend with us, but he is someone who has recognition for our club and for the way the club has committed itself to him."