Why Israel Folau refused chance to save career
Controversial Wallabies and Waratahs star Israel Folau spurned the chance to save his $4 million contract with Rugby Australia during his code of conduct hearing in Sydney over the last week.
Folau, who is under fire for condemning all gays to “hell” unless they repent for their “sins”, has instead reached out to fellow rugby players, particularly those of Pasifika heritage, in search of support for both him and his religious views.
The 30-year-old was told that if he took down his divisive Instagram post, which also claimed that ‘drunks, idolators and adulterers’ and others would join homosexuals in “hell”, it would be viewed as remorseful, according to The Daily Telegraph.
It is believed such an admission of his remorse would have reduced his code of conduct breach to a low or mid-range breach.
However, Folau has been issued with a high-level breach, which is serious enough for Rugby Australia to warrant a termination of his contract, while the post remains on his Instagram account, which has 354,000 followers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEWt2uHcLI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Throughout the three-day hearing, Folau was given multiple opportunities to state that he would prevent future comments that targeted the gay community, but he insisted that he would ‘not change’ and would continue to share his religious beliefs on social media.
As a result, he has asked players from the Australian Super Rugby franchises and the Japan-based Sunwolves to stand by him and his views.
Some players have come out both in support and against Folau’s sentiments since he published the post in April.
Australian-born English No. 8 Billy Vunipola found himself in hot water with England and club side Saracens for liking Folau’s post.
Wallabies and Reds prop Taniela Tupou shared a post on Facebook showing his support for Super Rugby and international teammate Samu Kerevi, who felt obliged to apologise after quoting the bible and thanking Jesus in an Instagram post of his own.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwZIi7Flzk-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In the now-deleted post, Tupou said that Rugby Australia “might as well sack me and all the other Pacific Islands rugby players around the world because we have the same Christian beliefs. I will never apologise for my faith and what I believe in, religion had [sic] got nothing to do with rugby anyways #TYJ”.
Elsewhere, many players and significant figures within the rugby fraternity have condemned Folau’s sentiments, with players and ex-players such as Gareth Thomas, James Haskell, Joe Marler, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Nehe Milner-Skudder and, more recently, Clyde Rathbone all taking aim at the 73-test star.
Following his guilty verdict, the best punishment Folau can now hope for is a suspension and/or a fine.
If he is to be sacked, however, he will be the first Australian athlete to be dismissed for his religious beliefs.
Should that be the case, he would not receive a payout after he declined a $1 million settlement agreement with Rugby Australia to walk away from his contract.
Both Folau and Rugby Australia will give written submissions to the panel before the sanction is handed down, while Folau also has 72 hours to lodge an appeal, a matter of which would be heard by an all-new panel.
The current panel’s decision of finding Folau guilty of a high-level breach may not be finalised for several days, with no timeline established on when that will occur.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
blackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
2 Go to commentsThat loss to the Blues still stings! The Reds have fallen short in 4 of the 6 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Are they not fit enough to close out the close games or are there tactical issues when games go down to the wire? The pleasing thing is no Australian side can better the Reds record of 3 wins from 5 against Kiwi sides but the Brumbies can match it. Les Kiss has instilled a belief in the Reds that they can match it with all the New Zealand sides.
33 Go to commentsA potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
4 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and welcome back 😁 Vulavalu does look better this year, and about time. I suspect Schmidt will knock the hubris out of him. That one handed put down was so embarrassing. Mind you, I had thought Kiss would deal with that. Leaving aside the different games and skills, in NRL he had a very good (but no bullshit) type of coach in Bellamy, something he hasn't had in Union until this year. Bellamy would have roasted him unmercifully for an unprofessional put down.
33 Go to commentsYou’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
33 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
33 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
33 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
4 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
2 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
33 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 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.
5 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?
33 Go to comments