Wallabies star Bernard Foley reveals how Australia needs to improve ahead of Rugby Union World Cup

Bernard Foley admits he thought his Wallabies career was over prior to this year’s surprise recall at age 33, and now the halfback is looking for a spot at next year’s World Cup.

Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia, Foley beamed with pride as he spoke about his recall after his last appearance for the Wallabies at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The 33-year-old, who lives in Japan, thought he had drawn green and gold for the last time.

But a combination of injuries and selectors still unsure of their best half gave Foley another chance.

‘It was amazing. For me, after being gone for three years and thinking it could have been over, to get that chance again was pretty cool, pretty special,” he said with a big smile.

‘You always have that desire, you always cherish it, to play Test rugby again. I’m just lucky that opportunity presented itself…a lot of things have to go your way.

‘A lot has changed; personnel, culture, coaching, but that’s exciting and you want change’, says Foley.

Since the bombing in the quarter-finals in 2019, a lot has certainly changed.

Australia has been plagued by problems on and off the field, winning just 10 out of 23 tests in the past two years.

Foley was immense when he returned to flyhalf in the now infamous defeat in the first Bledisloe Cup game last month, before being penalized by ‘the worst refereeing decision in history’ when a win was all but certain.

Part of the problem is that the lineup changes so often that even the most avid Wallabies fans struggle to keep up.

But Foley backs the oft-maligned coach Dave Rennie to the hilt, outlining the one thing Australia needs to improve on for next year’s World Cup.

‘The only thing this team is looking for is continuity in functions. That’s what we need and of course guys perform consistently well,” he said.

“Dave is good, I really enjoyed him. He’s a very astute rugby brain, but he also understands the players so well and gets along well with everyone.’

Foley is currently in his third year with Japanese club Kubota Spears after playing 119 Super Rugby matches for the Waratahs.

Not only is the ‘Iceman’ in Tokyo to pick up a check at the end of his career, but this is a leader who just shamelessly loves rugby union and wants to see as many people as possible enjoy it and get better at it .

‘Japanese rugby was great. It’s had such a good influence and impact on the people who play there,” said Foley.

“World class players and coaches have really improved the level of the Japanese players and the game there comes in handy.

“They’ve missed a trick because they haven’t played internationals in recent years with COVID, so that’s the only area they’re missing a bit; but they have good players and good coaches around them to rebuild that,” said Foley.

He is equally passionate about the Australian women’s union team – the Wallaroos – who are currently over New Zealand for their World Cup.

Despite being constantly made fun of by Rugby Australia, and lagging far behind in salary and organization than many other countries, Foley is a big fan of the standard the Aussie girls have.

Despite an incredible first half, the Wallaroos went to the Kiwis 41-17 in the tournament opener – but Foley said they are much better than that score suggests, and have the ability to be the best in the world.

“You see what great athletes they are and what they bring into the game,” he said.

“They are smart football players and we saw at the World Cup last week that they broke it in the first half. I think they have every opportunity to do it (win the World Cup).

Foley’s genuine love for the game is clearly infectious.

Even the past decade, which has been full of poor results, constant messy boardroom politics and often bad media coverage, has not dampened his enthusiasm.

“I still love rugby as much as the first day I played it,” he said.

‘It’s a great game. It has a lot to offer, it is a global game, it is inclusive, diverse and for people of all shapes and sizes; and many characters.

‘I’m not used to it (criticism and politics), but I’ve learned to deal with it better. You can’t get yourself involved because you can’t control a lot of it,” Foley said.

With 10 tests until next year’s World Cup, all hopeful Wallabies will be under scrutiny over the next 12 months.

When asked if he was looking forward to possibly qualifying for the World Cup, Foley was typically humble; rather concentrate on enjoying his footy.

“It’s an exciting timeline. The rugby calendar, the horizon is so positive. (But) there is so much to do between now and then (2023 Rugby World Cup), so much football to play, squads, rotation, staff changes,” he said.

“But what I’ve learned from my return is to take it game by game and really enjoy it.”

Foley spoke to the Daily Mail Australia of a sponsorship event for Aqua Rugby – a concept he hopes will take over the world.

He is the co-founder of the epic upcoming tournament, where players take part in full-contact rugby on a floating pontoon moored just outside the Manly ferry terminal on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

The three-day tournament, billed as the Hong Kong Sevens and Monaco GP, features both professional and amateur teams playing on the floating pontoon, as well as a range of shore-based initiatives to get young people more excited about rugby union.

Players can be tackled into the water from the side of the field, full contact is encouraged and attempts can only be scored by diving from the end of the floating field.

How do you come up with such a unique concept?

In the pub of course!

“The idea came up in a pub over a few beers, where all the good ideas come from,” Foley laughed when he told the Daily Mail in July how he came up with the concept.

“We were actually talking about a concept in France (called Water Rugby), but it was more touch rugby; and it inspired us while we were in a bar in 2016, when the union was not going well.

“We were thinking about what event we could do that would be the best way to raise awareness and get people interested in rugby again; whether they’re general sports fans or current rugby fans,” says Foley.

This is not a hit and giggle, a la Andrew Johns playing for NSW in a Big Bash T20 game in 2007, no – Aqua Rugby is for sheep stations.

And fans have responded. Apart from the hundreds flocking to the yachts and boats around the floating pontoon and those watching from the beach; 228,000 people tuned in live for the first tournament earlier this year, which was a huge success despite Covid and the weather bringing in multiple curveballs.

‘It is an exciting rugby brand. The difference is you don’t get an advantage through size or set pieces, so you have to use speed and ball movement,” Foley said of the game style.

Sporting legends such as Drew Mitchell, Wendell Sailor, Mark Gasnier and All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu were all involved, and professional and amateur teams from across Australia will flock to next month’s event.

You don’t want to miss all the superstars in action from November 10 – 12 – and for more information, visit aquarugby.com.