Israel Folau linked with move to New York club, aiming at Super League berth

Israel Folau has been linked with a fledgling New York rugby league club that aims to win a place in the UK-based Super League.

The sacked Wallabies star and former Kangaroo is currently sidelined after his legal dispute with Rugby Australia, which erupted when his contract was terminated due to homophobic outbursts on social media.

But he is being eyed-off as a potential marquee recruit for New York, according to The Daily Telegraph, which reported that club chief executive Ricky Wilby had made a pitch to Folau in a phone call.

Folau has been barred from playing in the NRL, so he is assessing his options abroad. New York has not yet tabled a formal offer, the Telegraph reported.

"I don't want to people to think we have automatically signed him," Wilby said.

New York is awaiting approval to join the League One competition; the third tier of British rugby league. Canada's Toronto Wolfpack have risen from the lower tiers to reach the Super League for next season and have signed another cross-code megastar, Sonny Bill Williams, to a two-year, $10 million contract.

Folau's strident anti-gay religious beliefs may prove an obstacle to any deal with New York.