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AustraliaIsrael Folau

Israel Folau has launched a fundraising campaign

Israel Folau departs after his Rugby Australia code of conduct hearing in early May (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
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Recently sacked Australian rugby star Israel Folau has shared a video on YouTube in the hope of raising money to continue his legal action against Rugby Australia. 

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Folau was sacked last month by Rugby Australia after a code of conduct tribunal over an Instagram post he shared in April, saying hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators” and “Repent! Jesus saves”. 

He launched another attack on gay people and also criticised young people being allowed to change gender during a sermon at his Sydney church last Sunday.

The former rugby union star described homosexuality as a sin and claimed the devil was behind primary school children being allowed to decide if they wanted to change gender.

Now, Folau has set up a gofundme page with the aim of raising $3m AUD to continue his fight against Rugby Australia. He claims that it has already cost him and his wife $100,000 AUD so far. This is the video he has shared:

Folau has remained insistent throughout this ordeal that he is entitled to freedom of expression and religion. This has created a major debate amongst the rugby world as to whether he should have been entitled to do this, with some believing that it is hate speech. 

Furthermore, this is made even more complicated based on Folau’s contract, and whether he was permitted to say something like this, after a similar situation the year before.

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So far, many current and former players have backed the decision to fire Folau, while there have also been many who disagree with Rugby Australia. It has been one of the rugby world’s biggest stories over the past year, and it looks like it will not die down with this latest video. 

While the 30-year-old’s career in Australia looks likely to be over, regardless of the outcome of his legal battle, he has been thrown a lifeline recently by Tonga, for whom he could potentially represent in the 2023 World Cup. 

For now, he is set to miss the World Cup in Japan later this year. The 62-cap international was arguably the Wallabies’ biggest player, which only makes this saga more damaging for Rugby Australia. 

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TT. 1 hour ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Agree on Wright, it will be hard to overlook him if he plays at the same level than last year !

Indeed, if Lonergan is not in the team - which I think is probably the best option if they plan to start Carter Gordon - they will definitely need a goalkicker.



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BC1812 2 hours ago
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SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

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TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

And who would pick at 15 ? Tom Wright ? Harvey ?

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TT. 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Due to the League’s influence in our opinion ? Too young to recall that sadly…

Aren’t Paisami and Flook leaving Australia this summer ? Crichton could be the solution to a lot of their problems indeed.



...

13 Go to comments
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SB 2 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Him and Marky Mark on the wings at the World Cup, aerial kicks galore. Not sure where that leaves Jorgensen though.

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unknown 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

JAS plays at 13 because the Wallabies already have loads of high quality back three players and basically only two other top quality centres (ikitau and Parisian) one of whom is abroad currently and one of whom is heading to Japan (I’ve heard) - so that’s the area of key lack of depth

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NB 3 hours ago
'Move Sua'ali'i to 15 - Rugby Australia cannot afford another unfulfilled talent'

Aussie have always had a surfeit of good back three players, more so than centres, even in their best years around 2000-2003… I recall them trying to shoehorn Elton Flatley into 12 for the 2001 Lions series.

They have Paisami, Ikitua and Flook wto work with now, and poss Angus Crichton in future. So I’d ships to 14 or 15 now, with a view to a JAS-Marky-Jordo backfield for the RWC, and poss Lomax in the mix too.



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NB 3 hours ago
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Let’s hope so. Hunter Paisami is having a good season at 12 for the Reds, Len Ikitau is top drawer and Josh Flook at a very smart 13, so there is some material to work with there…

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NB 3 hours ago
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They might start him at 14 and then move him to FB once he gets the hang of the backfield pendulum….

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Stephen11 3 hours ago
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