Rita Panahi: Rugby Australia’s Folau rift alienating Polynesian players
In their fervour to be “inclusive” the woke Wallabies have managed to alienate a sizeable portion of their supporter base and playing group with signs of growing racial and religious divisions in the sport, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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There are growing racial and religious divisions in elite rugby ranks that threaten to further destabilise the Wallabies in the lead-up to the World Cup.
The Israel Folau saga has uncovered deep disunity within the game they play in heaven.
Pacific islander players are taking to social media to express their dismay with the game’s governing body while the “progressive” private schoolboy contingent is making less public threats to walk.
The toxic state of affairs is also affecting players and clubs in Super Rugby and lesser leagues. Sadly, the sport is fractured due to ideological issues that have nothing to do with sport.
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FOLAU-BASHING A CLUMSY TACKLE ON FREE SPEECH
On one side, you have the mainly white players often from privileged backgrounds who are threatening to boycott the World Cup if Folau is reinstated; on the other are Polynesian players, often from humble beginnings, who are feeling persecuted for holding their devout Christian beliefs.
It’s an ugly crisis that Rugby Australia helped create through a series of ill-considered, illiberal decisions culminating in their intention to terminate the $4 million contract of one of the country’s best players for an Instagram post.
On Saturday, Folau will appear in front of a three-member panel, consisting of Sydney barrister John West, QC, Rugby Australia’s representative Kate Eastman and the Rugby Union Players’ Association appointee John Boultbee, for a code of conduct hearing that will determine whether he is to be reinstated. But the issue will not end there. There are a number of legal avenues available to Folau if he is unsuccessful.
In their fervour to be “inclusive” and tolerant, the woke Wallabies have managed to alienate a sizeable portion of their supporter base as well as their players, about a third of whom have Polynesian backgrounds. “I guarantee, if they take this hard stance against Izzy, a lot of the islander boys out there playing, they will be in the same boat and they will be happy to walk away from the game purely because of that reason in support of Izzy,” former Wallaby star Mark Gerrard said.
Wallabies and Queensland Reds star Taniela Tupou posted this on Facebook: “Seriously 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 nothing to do with rugby anyway #TYJ”
Tupou’s post had a link to a Fox Sports article about his Wallabies and Reds teammate, Samu Kerevi, with the headline, “Reds captain apologises for Easter post amid Folau storm”. But Kerevi was keen to make clear that he was not apologising for his Christian beliefs and they would remain a non-negotiable priority in his life.
He posted on Instagram: “I appreciate the kind words from everyone. But to be clear, I’m not apologising for my faith in Jesus Christ my saviour. God will always come first in my life and many other professional rugby players … I do not feel obliged to apologise to people because of the situation happening right now with a brother of mine.”
Kerevi, Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa, AFL players Gary Ablett and Matthew Kennedy and several international players had “liked” the Folau post that said: “Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves.”
England star Billy Vunipola, who is Australian-born to Tongan parents, has also felt the wrath of censorious sporting bodies who cannot cope with players expressing devout religious beliefs. He has received a warning from the English Rugby Football Union and his club, Saracens, for backing Folau.
A number of Wallabies will reportedly walk if Folau is reinstated.
The players haven’t been named but skipper Michael Hooper and veteran Bernard Foley have been among those who have been outspoken in their criticism of Folau’s social media activity.
The controversy has exposed a glaring double standard among sporting bodies in which players are free to post highly divisive opinions on social media on a range of controversial, polarising issues — as long as they are appropriately Left-leaning. But if players hold views based on devout Christian beliefs that are deemed politically incorrect, then they can expect to be censured.
Free speech should not be reserved for only those whose worldview is in line with professional sporting bodies and their sponsors.
The hypocrisy extends to the AFL and its clubs. Take the Swans who are among the loudest in trumpeting their leadership in promoting LGBTIQ+ inclusion and acceptance. But have a look at the coaches’ box during a game and you’ll see it adorned with Qatar Airways logos. Sydney signed the sponsorship deal with Qatar a few days after taking part in the inaugural Pride Game.
What does it say about the club’s support of the LGBTIQ+ community when it jumps into bed with a state-owned airline of a country where homosexuality is banned and gays are locked up?
As an atheist, I think I have the right to criticise Folau’s beliefs. But what I find far more odious than his post is Rugby Australia’s reaction. The rush to sack a player for stating his beliefs on his own social media account is bordering on tyrannical. In rushing to appease sponsors, Rugby Australia has trampled on Folau’s human rights and alienated a number of Polynesian players.
Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist
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