Israel Folau reaction: Alan Jones defends rugby star

Israel Folau has gained some high-profile support from broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones and an English rugby star.

Israel Folau has found an ally in broadcast heavyweight Alan Jones after Rugby Australia vowed to terminate the contract of the Wallabies star after he posted an image which included anti-gay sentiment to Instagram this week.

Folau, 30, was widely slammed for calling on “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” to repent for their sins or else “hell awaits” them.

But Jones, a former coach of our national rugby team, is pointing the finger at Rugby Australia.

“Rugby Australia are only worried about the quids, they’re only worried about the sponsorship,” Jones said on his 2GB radio show on Friday morning.

“That’s why they asked Israel to sign a contract in which he wouldn’t say this and he wouldn’t say that and that his views would be consistent with (Rugby Australia sponsor) Qantas.

“He’s made comments about religion — who will end up heaven and who will end up in hell. Who cares? It’s an opinion. I don’t necessarily agree with what he said, by the way, but a lot of people don’t agree with what I say.

“We’re going down a very, very narrow road here and this has gone on and on and on this crap. I’m telling you, out there people are terrified of saying anything. They are frightened, they don’t know what they can say.

“We’re on a slippery slope here ... it’s got nothing to do with Israel, or rugby, or religion, or homosexuals, or whatever. Where are we in this country on free speech?”

More support came in for Folau with English rugby flanker Billy Vunipola defended his “like” for the initial post and backed Folau’s view.

It comes after Hillsong pastor Brian Houston deleted a Twitter statement in which he spoke out against Israel Folau in the wake of his latest social media controversy.

Houston, whose Sydney-based church is one of the largest in the world, wrote Folau’s “way is not the right way”.

“So sad about the (Israel Folau) situation. His way is not the right way,” Houston tweeted. “It does not reflect the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament is clear, but grace does not point fingers. It recognises our own sinfulness. ‘But by the grace of God’.”

NEW ZEALAND PM SPEAKS OUT

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also taken aim at Folau, declaring his comments “damaging”.

Asked at a press conference about Folau’s comments, the popular PM was quick to condemn the statements.

“Obviously at a personal level I clearly don’t agree with what he said, and (I’m) very mindful of the fact that he is for many a role model. He’s a person in a position of influence and I think that with that comes responsibility,” Ardern said.

“I’m particularly mindful of young people who are members of our rainbow community, there is a lot of vulnerability there. As I say, I totally disagree with what he’s said and the way he’s using his platform.

“Ultimately these are matters for Australia, not for us, but we can hold our views on what he’s said.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has joined a long list of people condemning the rugby star’s comments. Picture: Nick Perry/AP

Folau’s post on Tuesday was not the first time he has published homophobic rhetoric on social media.

In a caption, Folau added: “Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him.”

Wallabies players Samu Kerevi and Allan Alaalatoa have liked Folau’s post, but there is no suggestion they condone the message being spread.”

Folau also posted on Twitter with the same but linking to a news bulletin about Tasmania making the inclusion of gender optional on birth certificates.

RUGBY AUSTRALIA: FOLAU GONE TO GROUND

Rugby Australia announced on Thursday night it planned to drop the hammer on Folau following the posts.

“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,” a statement read.

“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.”

The governing body was also clear with the next steps.

“In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract,” it said.

Folau needs all the help he can get.

Wallabies major sponsor Qantas, who threatened to pull their support after last years’ post, said they were waiting for the Rugby Australia response.

“These comments are really disappointing and clearly don’t reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that we support,” a Qantas statement said.

English international James Haskell didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Folau messages.

This is the biggest load of shit I have ever read. Sport has no place for this crap. Keep it to hate groups @IzzyFolau , you arent spreading the lords word. You are spreading hate.
You are an unreal player, but a fucking misinformed bigot. pic.twitter.com/ID4iEp1fkm

— James Haskell (@jameshaskell) April 11, 2019

Former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas, who was the victim of a homophobic attack late last year, said he felt sympathy for Folau.

Thomas came out as gay in 2009.

I don’t write this with hate or anger after Israel Folau’s comments.I write with sympathy. To everyone who reads it, don’t be influenced by his words. Be the better person and be YOU. Whoever YOU is..Hell doesn’t await YOU.Happiness awaits YOU.🌈❤️

— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) April 10, 2019

Folau signed a new four-year contract with Rugby Australia in February.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported “there are also beefed-up social media protocols he must observe, and more appearances required at fan days” while sponsors had pulled out of sponsoring the fullback between contracts, including Landrover taking back a car they lent Folau.

Folau is set to lose his Rugby Australia contract.

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The Wallabies fullback has long stood by his beliefs and in a story on the Players Voice last April, Folau said he would be willing to walk away from the game.

“(Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle and Waratahs general manager Andrew Hore) explained their position and talked about external pressure from the media, sponsors and different parts of the community, which I understand,” he wrote.

“After we’d all talked, I told Raelene if she felt the situation had become untenable — that I was hurting Rugby Australia, its sponsors and the Australian rugby community to such a degree that things couldn’t be worked through — I would walk away from my contract, immediately.”

If I was a famous rugby union player who had a clause in his contract that said not to tweet out nasty things about minorities, I would simply not do that and continue to be paid heaps for playing rugby while retaining my own private views

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) April 11, 2019

Finally Australian rugby has come out a winner.

— Hayley Byrnes (@HayleyByrnes) April 11, 2019

Honestly, I didn’t think RA had the courage to make the right call on Israel Folau’s blatant bigotry. Good on them. Very happy to be proven wrong. #rugby #folau

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottliebFOX) April 11, 2019