Israel Folau demands answers from Rugby Australia over leaks
Sacked star Israel Folau has sent a damning email to every Rugby Australia board member demanding to know how confidential details of his Code of Conduct hearing were leaked to News Corp Australia’s Jamie Pandaram. READ IZZY’S LETTER
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Part 1: ‘You’ll go to hell’: Israel’s fate sealed by dad
- Part 2: Why Folau believe he was up to fail
- Part 3: Fatal mistake that crucified Izzy
- Part 4: Folau’s desperate move to ignite NRL career
Israel Folau has sent letters to every member on Rugby Australia’s board demanding answers about how confidential details from his Code of Conduct hearing were published by The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph.
Folau’s signed letter — which has been exclusively obtained by The Sunday Telegraph — was emailed to each of the 10 directors, including chief executive Raelene Castle and chairman Cameron Clyne, at 3pm today.
The contents are intimately raw and personal, painting a picture of a man still deeply frustrated and confused as to why he was sacked for what he maintains were just an expression of his strong Christian faith.
“I know this may be difficult for some to understand, but I am nothing if I am unable to share the word of the Bible with my fellow man,” he wrote.
MORE ON ISRAEL FOLAU:
Jessica Halloran: ‘Folau has a history of going back on his word’
Rugby bosses insure against Folau claim
He also requested an explanation as to how confidential details of his sworn testimony ended up on the pages of The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph in Jamie Pandaram’s stunning four-part expose on the case that has divided Australia.
“This is blatantly unfair. As you know, the tribunal hearing must be closed and private, and Rugby Australia was obliged to keep all information confidential,” he wrote.
“I would like to know why Rugby Australia has not managed to maintain the integrity of its processes and ensure that information was kept private and confidential.”
The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph have not and will not disclose their sources so Folau’s accusations are unproven.
Folau also took issue with the way he thought he has been portrayed in the media, accusing Rugby Australia of providing unfair and misleading information.
“For example, I am not ‘sick of rugby’ and whoever told the media that I am is telling lies,” he wrote.
“Another example is the way the media has been told that that your expectations were made clear to me by Ms Castle. We all know that that is far from the truth.
“It makes me sad that these things have apparently been told to the media by someone at Rugby Australia. If you are not the source, why has no-one come out to set the record straight?”
Folau’s letter to the board of directors was emailed just two days after his lawyers filed an application with the Fair Work Commission to deal with his unlawful termination dispute.
In addition to receiving $5 million in lost earnings, he has indicated he is also seeking “substantial” damages.
The Saturday Telegraph today revealed that Rugby Australia has taken out a $10 million insurance cover against the threat of damages but if Folau wins the case, an early lump sum payout of his salary could lead to funding cuts to professional and community rugby programs.
The independent tribunal that heard Folau’s Code of Conduct case found him guilty of a high-level breach for posting comments on his social media accounts that Rugby Australia deemed to be anti-gay.
He could have appealed that decision but opted instead to take the matter directly to the Fair Work Commission, telling the directors in his letter: “I decided not to ‘appeal’ the panel’s finding because I wasn’t confident you would treat me fairly if I did. This week’s media shows that my instincts were right.”
Rugby Australia will fight the charges, saying Folau was fired because he went back on his word and broke his employment contract.
Rugby Australia on Saturday night said it was disappointed the letter had been released.
“While we accept that a PR firm has been engaged to coordinate a media campaign to promote the legal action taken against Rugby Australia, we are disappointed that this campaign is impacting on the work done by the thousands of volunteers who are delivering great experiences for the rugby community and also that it has taken the focus away from a crucial Australian Super Rugby derby, being played by Israel’s former team tonight,’’ the statement read.
“Rugby Australia has acted with complete professionalism and integrity at all times through the process in which Mr Folau was found by an independent three-member tribunal panel to have made multiple, serious breaches of the Professional Players Code of Conduct.
“While we will continue to respond to any legal action as required and will continue to defend the values that underpin our game and the work done by the hard working volunteers, we will not engage in a running media commentary.”