The Australian's move to the Perpignan based team attracted controversy when it was announced last week, as it came just six months after Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for posting anti-gay comments on social media.

After criticism from other Super League teams and players, the Rugby Football League (RFL) was forced to issue a statement defending its position.

They described the situation as 'difficult' and conceded that the moral responsibility for deciding whether to sign a player sat with individual clubs.

The Super League clubs met in Salford in England yesterday to discuss the matter with Catalans chairman Bernard Gausch a notable absentee.

After the meeting they issued a statement which read: "Super League has clearly and consistently outlined its position on Israel Folau.

"With the season underway, we now feel it is important for Super League to separate what is an off-field matter from what is happening on the field.

"The Super League board accepts the legalities around the RFL's decision to register Israel Folau, and the board has voted unanimously to put in place measures that ensure the Super League has greater authority to stop controversial signings such as this in the future.

"As a sport we have an impressive and enviable track record when it comes to equality, diversity and inclusion and we will continue our great work in those areas."

Folau, who is fourth in the list of all-time try scorers for Australia and has 62 caps for the national side in rugby union, was raised a Mormon before becoming an active member of an Assemblies of God Fellowship in 2011.

His contract was worth a reported AUS$4 million (£2.1 million/$2.8 million/€2.5 million). 

He posted "Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators - Hell awaits you" on Instagram in April, with a three-member panel finding him guilty of a “high-level” breach of Rugby Australia's player code of conduct.