Israel Folau issued breach notice over social media post

Israel Folau has 48 hours to respond to a breach notice from Rugby Australia.

Israel Folau. Picture: AAP

Israel Folau has 48 hours to respond to a breach notice from Rugby Australia, or his contract will be torn up.

MORE: Rugby a battlefield between religious right and liberal Australia

Folau speaks: ‘Faith comes first’

Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby Union CEO, Andrew Hore said its integrity unit deemed that Folau had committed a high-level breach of the professional players’ code of conduct warranting termination of his $4 million employment contract.

“At the end of the day, Israel will make his decision on whether he chooses to accept the breach notice. But the Integrity Unit has recommended termination as part of that,” Raelene Castle said.

Folau’s rugby union career was called into question after an Instagram post which said that homosexuals were destined for hell and quoted a passage from the bible.

Ms Castle said that when she had met with Folau last Friday, the player had been “unapologetic” of his social media post.

“He (Folau) was unapologetic for his posts and his position and that left us with no option but to move forward to the position that we’re in today.”

Ms Castle said there was no social media clause within the contract.

“But there was a number of meetings — documented meetings — that were put in writing, both verbally and in writing, to Israel about our expectations,” Ms Castle said.

Rugby Australia has not yet asked Folau to remove the post.

Ms Castle said Rugby Australia had been clear with Folau about the “implications of this type of posting” when he began his four-year contract in February and said his comments had been “very disruptive to the game”

“We want employees and players to understand the wider value set of Rugby Australia. They can use their large social media followings and their positivity to do so many great things for this sport, and 99 per cent of the players do that in this way,” Ms Castle told reporters.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next 48 hours.”

Folau yesterday said his “faith comes first” and would not back down from his controversial comments.

The 30-year-old regularly attends The Truth of Jesus Christ Church which holds it’s religious services at the Kenthurst Uniting Church.

This will be war: church leader

A New Zealand church leader has hit out at critics of Folau, claiming “this will be war” if anyone classes parts of the bible as containing hate speech.

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki took to social media following the Waratahs ace’s controversial remarks, hitting out at “secular, liberal, left-leaning, atheists” who “openly attempt to legislate our founding faith”.

“This will be war if you call the Bible Hate speech when any verse in it is quoted,” he wrote.

“Whether at home … at work or on the street … how dare secular, liberal, left-leaning, atheists openly attempt to legislate our founding faith. Christianity or the Bible as hate speech.”

This will be War if you call th Bible Hate speech when any verse in it is Quoted..whether at home..at Work or on th Street..how dare Secular,Liberal,left leaning,Atheists openly attempt to legislate our Founding Faith..Christianity or Th Bible as Hate Speech. pic.twitter.com/PY8p1kqhFP

— Bishop Brian Tamaki (@BishopTamaki) April 14, 2019

Destiny Church is a Pentecostal fundamentalist Christian movement based in Auckland.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was also pressed on the issue, saying that while Folau’s comments might not be legally classified as hate speech, they had the potential to be damaging.

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

“I’m particularly mindful that young people are members of our rainbow community (and) there’s a lot of vulnerability there.

“I totally disagree with what he says and how he’s using his platform.”

Geelong legend Gary Ablett and Carlton midfielder Matt Kennedy have also been caught up in the scandal, after the pair “liked” Folau’s post on Instagram.

Both AFL players appeared to show their support for Folau by doing so. The Herald Sun reports Ablett removed his “like” on Sunday.

Folau comments ‘unfit for Wallabies’

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Folau’s “disrespectful” comments would currently make it impossible to pick the superstar for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Folau remains stood down over his latest social media post

Those remarks make it difficult for Cheika to envision the 30-year-old being part of the Wallabies’ plans for the tournament in Japan, starting in September. “You wouldn’t be able to,” Cheika said when asked whether he’d be able to select Folau again under the circumstances.

Israel Folau with his wife Maria Folau yesterday. Picture: Hollie Adams

Cheika, Wallabies and NSW Waratahs captain Michael Hooper and Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson all fronted the media in Sydney on Monday morning.

Asked if he was comfortable taking the field again alongside Folau, flanker Hooper said “In this current state and being here and talking about this as a rugby player, it makes it hard, it makes it difficult.”

While emphasising what their teams stood for, especially in regards to diversity, they also stressed Folau was entitled to his beliefs. “Everybody has the right — and we respect that right — to believe whatever they like, we’re not moral judgers and no one should be,” Cheika said.

“You take your friends warts and all, and your teammates,” Hooper said. “It’s frustrating having to stand here because I can’t speak for Israel, but it is part of the team celebrating our diversity and celebrating that in a respectful manner.”

Cheika conceded Folau had crossed a line which was marked when the religiously-motivated Folau made similar tweets a year ago.

“Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team’s about,” Cheika said on Monday.

NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and Waratahs captain Michael Hooper this morning. Picture: Brett Costello

“When you play in the gold jersey, we represent everyone in Australia: everyone. Everyone that’s out there supporting us. We don’t pick and choose.”

Cheika didn’t think the issue would rear its head again after the controversy of last year’s tweets and Rugby Australia’s subsequent talks with Folau. He had tried unsuccessfully to contact him for an explanation.

“We had a discussion at the end of the last time and made it pretty clear about his right to believe and our support in that if that’s what he wants,” he said. “I felt that I needed to talk to him about why, and I haven’t had that chance as yet. I’m sure I will in the future at some stage when it settles down for him a little bit.

“I made the calls and left the messages. There’s no beef.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Folau had a right to an opinion but had probably let himself down in the way he had done so.

“Even this morning I read he firmly believes it so he’s just missing one piece of the jigsaw puzzle, I think,’ Hansen said.

The Waratahs, who play Melbourne Rebels in a big Super Rugby Australian conference derby this weekend, have sidelined Folau.

He has refused to back down from his social media attack and says he’s prepared to walk away from the game for the sake of his faith.

With AAP