Rugby Australia to terminate Israel Folau’s contract months out from RWC

Israel Folau is considering fighting for his career at a code of conduct hearing with Rugby Australia, despite the governing body all but tearing up the superstar’s contract after he posted homophobic content on social media.

Israel Folau set to be sacked by Rugby Australia.

• No thanks: NRL shuts door on Folau
• ‘Downright dangerous’ Folau slammed over post
• Folau offered to quit rugby over beliefs
• Rugby community slams Folau over tweet

In a watershed moment for Australian sport, Wallabies star Israel Folau is set to be sacked by Rugby Australia five months before the World Cup for posting homophobic content on social media.

The only reason Folau’s $4 million contract has not been torn up immediately is that he refused to return RA’s phone calls throughout Thursday, 24 hours after Folau repeated claims on Instagram that homosexuals, among other sinners, should repent or are destined for hell.

Folau must go through a code of conduct hearing with RA before his contract can be officially terminated, and it’s understood he is now considering fighting for his career at that hearing when he emerges from the shadows.

Israel Folau set to be sacked by Rugby Australia.

But in a stunning development, it can be revealed that the NSW Waratahs are already targeting Melbourne’s Wallaby winger Jack Maddocks as a replacement for Folau next season.

The NRL last night said they would not consider employing Folau if he is sacked by RA.

Under his employment protocols, Folau would have the opportunity to front a tribunal, where he could attempt to make a case to save his career.

The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free. pic.twitter.com/BWSWTMye98

— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) April 10, 2019

I don’t agree with the opinions of Israel Folau but I am distinctly uncomfortable with this pile on. He is a rugby player with a well known very Christian conservative worldview. They employed him and they knew that how can they sack him?

— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) April 11, 2019

Those who know Folau believe he does not want to move to Europe, his only viable option if he is sacked and then snubbed by the NRL.

The ultrareligious Christian fullback plunged the code into crisis for a second time in a year when he posted the material online, outraging RA, their major sponsors, fans and the general public.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Matildas soccer star Sam Kerr, and Greens politician Jason Ball were among a host of notable figures condemning Folau’s comments.

RA’s major sponsors Qantas, Asics and HSBC were keenly awaiting their actions on Folau.

When Folau first enraged the public with his anti-gay stance last April, threats to pull sponsorship were assuaged by RA’s insistence they had counselled the player and he’d agreed not to post further inflammatory material.

After that, Folau and RA negotiated a contract extension of four years, worth $1 million a year, down from the $1.2 million annual salary he was collecting prior to his online ranting.

The $800,000 pay cut over four years was also compounded by an understanding that Folau would not post offensive material on social media, leaving his bosses little choice but to forecast his sacking on Thursday night.

"In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract,” said a statement issued by RA chief executive Raelene Castle, and NSW chief executive Andrew Hore.

“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.

Israel Folau’s rugby career in Australia is all but over.

"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.
"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.
"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 and 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.”

Folau is contracted to the end of the 2022 season, having re-signed with RA and the Waratahs in February.

He became the highest try scorer in Super Rugby history last weekend when he crossed for the 60th time in NSW’s loss to the Blues in Auckland.

Neither Folau nor Moses returned The Daily Telegraph’s calls.

Pride in Sport, an organisation supporting LGBTI inclusion in sport, praised rugby’s course of action.

“This unprecedented course of action sends a strong message of what will and will not be tolerated in rugby – and they’ve made it clear that homophobia and transphobia has no place in the sport, whether on or off the field,” said Andrew Purchas, co-founder of Pride in Sport.

Originally published as Rugby Australia to terminate Israel Folau’s contract months out from RWC