MELBOURNE // The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) was right to withdraw Israel Folau from New South Wales Waratahs’ Super Rugby clash against Western Force due to concerns about the player’s safety, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has said.
The ARU controversially overruled the Waratahs’ selection of the 15-cap Wallaby for Saturday’s match in Perth, saying the marquee fullback’s throat injury had not healed enough to let him play.
Folau, 25, and his coach Michael Cheika were left fuming as the Waratahs slumped to a 28-16 loss at NIB stadium.
“Everyone wants him to play, but in the end you’ve got to consider the player’s welfare,” McKenzie told host broadcaster Fox Sports late on Saturday.
“Obviously, by Thursday when information became available, the ARU got involved at that point and it wasn’t deemed that he was ready to play.
“In the interest of the welfare of Israel and nothing else a decision was made.”
Folau on Saturday took umbrage with the ARU for not consulting with him directly about his health.
McKenzie conceded that the process would be reviewed after Cheika said the ARU had breached protocols by conducting their own medical analysis without briefing the team.
“We will review the process. Both sides of the process,” McKenzie added. “We’ve heard one side of it. We have been involved in the process the last couple of weeks.
“There’s been lots of phone calls between doctors. Who talks to the player? How many people talk to the player? How many people talk to the specialist? We’ll review all that.
“In the end the only motivating factor here is the best interest of Izzy. That’s why the decision was made.”
Folau, who scored eight tries in four Super Rugby matches prior to hurting his throat in a clash against Melbourne Rebels last month, said on Saturday he had been told by specialists that the injury could take six months to fully heal.
Australia face France in a three-Test series in June.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
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A foster couple or family must:
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- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
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The National's picks
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Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
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The five pillars of Islam
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
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Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
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Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
NO OTHER LAND
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Rating: 4/5
CREW
Key facilities
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
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