Alan Jones defends Israel Folau, attacks Rugby Australia’s decision to terminate $4m contract

Alan Jones attacks Rugby Australia’s decision to terminate the high-profile player’s $4m contract.

Alan Jones has hit out at Rugby Australia’s decision to terminate high-profile rugby player Israel Folau’s contract saying the decision has “completely corrupted” free speech in Australia.

It comes as the sport star’s $4 million contract with Rugby Australia is set to be scrapped following a homophobic social media post condemning homosexuals, drunks and liars where Folau says “Hell awaits you”.

“It’s got nothing to do with Israel, or rugby, or religion, or homosexuals. Where are we in this country on free speech?” Jones said on his 2GB radio show this morning.

“It has completely corrupted free speech in this country.

“It wouldn’t be the first time, in my opinion, that Rugby Australia have got it completely wrong and I think if they have signed this contract or demanded of Israel certain matters outside the playing of the game … then that, I believe, is outside the ambit of what they are able to do,” he went on.

“We’ve got an issue here because we’re going down a very, very narrow road here.

“This has gone on and on and on this crap. Out there, people now are terrified of saying anything, they don’t know what they can say.”

Folau posted his religious views to Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday warning people to “repent” their sins.

“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,” his post said.

Rugby Australia Chief Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby Union CEO Andrew Hore yesterday announced their intention to terminate Folau’s contract and a string of sponsors including Qantas, have distanced themselves from the player.

Sport Australia boss Kate Palmer commended Rugby Australia’s commended the announcement and urged all sports to follow suit.

“Discrimination is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in any sport or recreation environment, at whatever level,” she said.

“Everyone is entitled to their own views but expressing divisive and discriminatory beliefs is harmful to sport and the broader Australian community.”

Folau is yet to respond to by Rugby Australia and has not returned their calls.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce also condemned Rugby Australia’s decision.

“He (Folau) is a rugby player with a well known very Christian conservative worldview. They employed him and they knew that how can they sack him?” he said on Twitter.

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

`New video has also emerged of the rugby player giving a controversial sermon on how celebrating Christmas and Easter is wrong, just two days after he posted other contentious religious comments online.

The video obtained by The Daily Telegraph, was taken last month and shows Folau preaching on a church altar during a Sunday mass.

“Christmas and Easter, that’s man-made,” Folau tells worshippers, before attacking Christians who do not devoutly read the bible.

Rugby Australia are set to rip up Israel Folau’s contract! It’s because of his controversial social media posts condemning homosexuals and vision of him preaching that people who celebrate Christmas and Easter are “heathens”. Do you agree with their decision? #9Today pic.twitter.com/g4UTHKfTks

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 11, 2019

“For so many years we were caught up in the world thinking that celebrating Christmas was biblical, but when you read this passage you can see what God says about it.”

Folau proceeds to read a verse from the Bible and tells worshippers that Jesus’ mother Mary shouldn’t be held up to the church as an idol.

“If we don’t go back to the scriptures and see what God says, we can easily fall into the tradition of man, thinking we’re doing the right thing.

“There’s a whole lot of people that go to church, but they’re not following the doctrine of Christ.

Scott Morrison criticised Folau for making a “terribly insensitive comment” about gay people.

“It was a terribly insensitive comment and they have taken action as a result,” Mr Morrison told the ABC this morning.

MORE: Alan Jones writes Rugby Australia is out of step with those who love our game

“It is important that people act with love, care and compassion to their fellow citizens and to speak sensitively to their fellow Australians. That’s what I believe.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also took aim at Folau, saying his comments were “damaging”.

“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,” she said during a press conference.

“He’s a person in a position of influence and I think that with that comes responsibility,” Ms Ardern said.

It is understood Folou’s new four-year contract with Rugby Australia, signed in February, had a social media clause.

The 30-year-old has previously come under fire for preaching his controversial religious beliefs online and later wrote on the Player’s Voice last April, that 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 last year.

“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.”