Rugby Australia intend to terminate the contract of the uncontactable Folau

Rugby Australia will terminate Israel Folau’s multi-million-dollar-four-year contract unless the Wallabies superstar can explain his latest social media attacks on homosexuals.

RA boss Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby Union CEO Andrew Hore issued a statement on Thursday declaring their intention to axe Folau after being unable to contact the three-times John Eales Medallist.

RA’s integrity unit was called to investigate on Wednesday after Folau took to Instagram to proclaim hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.

“Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union have made repeated attempts to contact Israel both directly and via his representatives since 6.30pm on Wednesday, and at this point he has failed to communicate directly with either organisation,” the RA statement said.

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport. We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.”

#BREAKING: @RugbyAU has announced its intention to terminate Israel Folau's contract "in the absence of compelling mitigating factors". #SuperRugbyhttps://t.co/mFOVU5GttY

— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) April 11, 2019

Folau had been warned – but not sanctioned – after testing Castle’s patience with a series of homophobic posts last year, most notably one that said “God’s plan for gay people was HELL”.

“Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality,” the statement continued.

“Rugby is a sport that continuously works to unite people. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome in our game and no vilification based on race, gender, religion or sexuality is acceptable and no language that isolates, divides or insults people based on any of those factors can be tolerated.

“As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally an d repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action. In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.”

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Folau, who on Saturday became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer, only recommitted to Australian rugby and the Wallabies two months ago.

The code-hopping star had threatened to walk away from the game after being hauled over the coals last year, saying his faith would always win over rugby. “This is not about money or bargaining power or contracts,” Folau said at the time.

Folau had taken to Instagram on Wednesday, claiming that gay people will go to hell. He also appeared to criticism legislation in Tasmania that is making gender an optional section on birth certificates.

In a post sent to his 300,000 followers on Instagram, the Australian international wrote: “Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God – Galatians 5:19-21 KJV.”

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