Fallout from the Israel Folau fiasco is proof that religion cannot be run out of rugby

The Wallabies seem to be in purgatory, and it is the task of new boss Dave Rennie to restore the confidence of his Christian players that they belong and can express their faith.

NEWS 360 PREMIUM LOCKED CONTENT – NO THE AUSTRALIAN/NO NEWS.COM/NO SKY NEWS/NO THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN. Israel Folau plays his first rugby super league game with The Catalan Dragons against the Castleford Tigers in Perpignan, France and people in the background hanged a rainbow flag. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

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Of the many stunning claims in the affidavits of senior Wallabies Sekope Kepu and Samu Kerevi, the cancellation of prayer meetings after Israel Folau’s sacking is the saddest development.

Folau led nightly prayer meetings during Wallabies camp, and nearly all of the Pacific Islander players as well as devout Christian David Pocock would attend.

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A rainbow flag hangs in the background as Israel Folau plays his first Super League game for the Catalan Dragons. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Kepu said: “Since Israel has been gone the prayer groups have stopped. There is no doubt to me that the Wallabies would have gone further in the 2019 Rugby World Cup had Israel been on the team [because of] his influence both on and off the field”.

The World Cup champion Springboks are deeply religious and anchored their successful campaign around their faith, while the All Blacks embraced the various Christian, Muslim and agnostic views of their stars.

“I did not attend Wallabies camp”. Stunning revelations from senior players in court documents supporting Israel Folau https://t.co/uooIMc83Sz pic.twitter.com/HU7lQr3k8S

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) February 25, 2020

The Wallabies seem to be in purgatory, and it is the task of new boss Dave Rennie, the first coach of Polynesian heritage to be in charge of the Wallabies, to restore the confidence of his Christian players that they belong and can express their faith in the team environment.

Given the large number of players from a Pacific Island background in Australia’s Super Rugby teams, most who are religious, this is not an issue that can be washed over. While Folau’s expression of his faith breached the game’s code of conduct, what’s clear from the statements of Kepu and Kerevi is that Christians within the team are still confused by what they can and can’t say or share.

Originally published as Fallout from the Israel Folau fiasco is proof that religion cannot be run out of rugby