Opinion: Should’ve kept that one to yourself, Izzy
Israel Folau is the fullback for a very disappointing Waratahs team, as well as a very disappointing Wallabies team. So at least it was keeping in character that he made a very disappointing tweet last night regarding marriage equality in Australia.
I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.✌❤🙏
— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) September 13, 2017
In a week where the Australian Rugby Union would’ve just been looking forward to a rare occasion when the Wallabies would go into a game as favourites, Folau’s paradoxical show/lack of support for gay people is a sideshow they really didn’t need. Especially considering they had to spend their last match in Perth listening to the crowd chanting the name of the Western Force, who the ARU have cut from Super Rugby.
For the record, Israel Folau is fully entitled to have an opinion on this issue – no matter how backward it is. Unfortunately for him, and the teams he’s associated with, taking up that entitlement publically brings with it the predictable backlash that he should’ve known was going to come within seconds of hitting the ‘tweet’ button. And boy, it came.
Sad to hear you state this mate. Human rights aren't an opinion.
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) September 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/vanbadham/status/907877050001768448
It's my opinion that this tweet is worse than your AFL career
— Josh Button (@PiesJosh) September 13, 2017
So what did he think this going to achieve?
It’s now the main talking point in a public relations battle the Australian rugby is currently losing handsomely, given their mishandling of the Super Rugby cull and horrible on-field form. They gained a brief respite last week by drawing with a strong Springbok team and are now due to play a weak Pumas side – a perfect chance to get some form back. Instead they’ll now have to deal with this distraction.
The most annoying part of all this is that the Wallabies did actually have the one guy in world rugby who has been incredibly vocal on this issue, however in a far more politically correct way. Flanker David Pocock, currently taking a year off, publically stated that he wouldn’t marry until marriage equality had been made legal in Australia.
He even demonstrated his beliefs on the field too, calling out Jacques Potgieiter for a homophobic slur during a match between the Brumbies and Waratahs – which was backed up by the skippers of both sides and SANZAAR, who handed Potgieter a fine.
In Folau’s old code, the NRL have moved swiftly to back the marriage equality issue. CEO Todd Greenberg has publically supported the ‘yes’ vote, on the behest of the code’s first openly gay player. Former Manly, NSW and Kangaroo forward Ian Roberts had asked him to endorse it – however considering Roberts is capable of stuff like this, it’s unlikely anyone would want to disagree with him.
Even over here in NZ, where the All Blacks have carved out a reputation as impregnable and monolithic when it comes to opinions, at least one has made his feelings known on the matter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BY-EShSDPrl/
The big difference here being that while some people will disagree with TJ Perenara, it’s not an opinion the All Blacks will have to disassociate themselves with. Spare a thought for the ARU PR department, who have now had their hand forced into clarifying their stance on an issue that Pocock was quite happily taking on their behalf.
If there’s a lesson to be learned in this for Folau, it’s those shows of support and what they mean to the teams and codes associated with them. No one would’ve not watched rugby if he’d kept his opposition to marriage equality to himself. Plenty of folks probably won’t now because he did.
The big talking point about rugby in Australia is how it has to compete with the NRL, AFL and A-League for attention. If Israel Folau still wants a job, he simply can’t afford to turn any potential fans away – whether they’re gay or not.
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments