Israel Folau furore: Willie Ofahengaue backs fellow Tongan

Former Wallabies great Willie Ofahengaue says Israel Folau has every right to freedom of ­religion.

Former Australian Test rugby player Willie Ofahengaue at his Melbourne home yesterday. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Former Wallabies great Willie Ofahengaue — the first Tongan to represent Australia — has ­defended Israel Folau, saying the star player has every right to exercise his freedom of speech and ­religion.

On the eve of an internal code of conduct hearing for Folau’s ­appeal against Rugby Australia’s move to terminate his contract, Ofahengaue said the sport’s governing body had been too quick to sack the Wallabies fullback, despite warning him last year over similar comments on social media.

The former World Cup-­winning flanker led the charge of Pacific Islanders into the Wallabies, playing 41 Tests.

He became a minister of religion at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Victoria and South ­Australia after his rugby ­retirement in 1998.

MORE: Alan Jones writes Rugby Australia must be silenced, not ­Folau

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Ofahengaue said he supported Folau’s comments last month on his Instagram page, which is ­followed by 351,000 people, ­warning that “drunks, homo­sexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” would end up in hell ­because they were ­“living in sin”.

Folau, a devout Christian also of Tongan descent, was suspended by Rugby Aus­tralia, which announced its intention to tear up his $1 million-a-year contract.

The Rugby Australia stance threatens to drive a wedge among the sport’s professional ranks. Queensland Reds prop Taniela “Tongan Thor” Tupou said this week Pacific Islander players “might as well” be sacked for their Christian beliefs.

Ofahengaue said he was surprised Rugby Australia didn’t talk to Folau before announcing it was sacking him, declaring it unfair.

“I understand there were ­restrictions with his contract but what he said is what he believes,” Ofahengaue said. “I support what he said. As Christians, we preach what we ­believe. He has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion and he is talking about what he believes. I think it is a bit hard on him to be sacked for saying what he believes and to face these sorts of consequences.’’

Ofahengaue in his playing days.

In a leaked letter sent to Wallabies players late last month, Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle reiterates that she “took action to deal with a breach of contract’’.

“I want to again reinforce that message that our game is a game for all,’’ Ms Castle wrote.

“I know that many of you have been put in a challenging situation over the past week.

“You have been asked to comment on a friend and a teammate and that is a difficult situation — a situation none of us wanted to see happen and all of us hoped would not happen again.’’

Ofahengaue, a father of six, said he was “not sure” if any gay people were offended by Folau’s comments but he doubted that the star player had meant to hurt anyone.

“I don’t think he was singling out gay people,’’ he said.

“He is talking about all sinners, not just gay people. We are all sinners and we need to repent — I think that is what he meant.’’

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Ofahengaue said he had little doubt the controversy would be affecting players of Pacific Islander descent.

He said he was always open about his faith when playing for Australia, and prayer sessions were part of the Wallabies squad when he played.

Ofahengaue recalled going to church with then captain Nick Farr-Jones and subsequent captain John Eales on the morning of the 1991 World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand.

Wallabies centre Samu Ker­evi, who was caught in the scandal after liking Folau’s post, yesterday moved to play down concern about Pacific Islander player unrest in Australian rugby.

“Nella (Taniela Tupou) is all good,” Kerevi said.

“People have just taken what he said in the wrong way.”