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Sacked rugby union star Israel Folau admitted five months ago his controversial Instagram posts breached the sport’s code of conduct, Rugby Australia claims.
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The staunch Christian is suing RA and the NSW Waratahs for unlawful dismissal, claiming his firing earlier this year over the social media messages was because of his religion.
In one post in April Folau claimed transgender people were evil and should repent while another said homosexuals were living in sin and would go to hell unless they repented.
It was the second time he’d been pulled up for the same conduct, after it was revealed he offered to walk away from the sport and his contract over similar posts in April 2018.
RA and the Waratahs filed their formal defences to Folau’s allegations on Wednesday, revealing Folau conceded before a league tribunal in May that his posts had breached the sport’s code of conduct.
Faced with his concessions and refusal to remove the posts, the tribunal had li ttle choice but to direct his contract be terminated, RA claims.
It says it’s “remarkable” Folau now claims his posts did not breach the code and that he also conceded to the tribunal that the posts had the potential to damage RA’s relationship with sponsors and knew transgender and homosexual people may have been offended.
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Folau claims his sacking was on the basis of his religion and has meant he can no longer play rugby union at an international level.
Looks like we'll be seeing Israel Folau back on the pitch soon.https://t.co/2sGF6fZXr2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2019
He’s seeking damages, reinstatement of his contract and an apology.
But RA rejects his arguments, claiming Folau’s expressions of faith had always been supported, “provided that these were done in a respectful and inclusive manner”.
“Rugby Australia’s objection to the posts at issue was not their religious content but rather their tone and attributes,” the defence says.
High flyers #RugbyWorldCup #SouthernHemisphere pic.twitter.com/LDjJAgvs0F
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2019
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The Waratahs also filed their defence to Folau’s claims on Wednesday, pointing to their once top player’s conduct as bound t o continue to cause outrage and threats of boycotts.
“It was of concern to (the Waratahs) that (Folau) continued, unrepentantly, to assert an entitlement to express homophobic views on an Instagram feed reaching many hundreds of thousands of rugby followers,” the Super Rugby franchise said.
They also denied Folau’s restraint of trade claims, pointing to his former careers as an elite AFL and Rugby League player.
His termination does not stop him playing other sporting codes professionally, including internationally, they said.
Folau is indeed hoping to make a return to international rugby next month, with a bid to play for Tonga in Tests against Great Britain and Australia.
Australian Rugby League Chairman Peter Beattie has already ruled out Folau making a return to league in Australia but the International Federation is expected to discuss his return on Thursday.
AAP
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
A lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments