More rugby sponsors denounce Folau’s gay comments

Several more key Rugby Australia sponsors go public in their criticism of star player Israel Folau’s gay comments.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle speaks to media about Israel Folau's use of social media. Picture: AAP

The storm surrounding Israel Folau’s controversial social media post last week has spread, with several more key Rugby Australia sponsors going public yesterday to criticise the comments, while also promoting their own credentials on diversity and inclusion.

Yesterday, vitamin giant Swisse, consulting group Accenture and HSBC all told The Australian that Folau’s view that gays will go to “hell unless they repent” were not compatible with their own values.

However, in one piece of good news for Rugby Australia, two more sponsors, Coca-Cola Amatil and Taylors Wines, said they would unequivocally commit to their partnership with the sport’s governing body, despite the controversy.

RA’s second biggest partner, ASICS, the code’s uniform and footwear sponsor whose logo is featured on the Wallabies jersey, did not respond to repeated requests for comment from T he Australian yesterday.

Late last month ASICS took a hard line over the ball tampering scandal, terminating the contracts of two players it personally sponsored, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, over their involvement in the scandal.

Major sponsor Qantas has expressed displeasure, but had no further update yesterday.

The positions of a raft of Rugby Australia’s sponsors were sought after a meeting was held in Sydney yesterday between Folau, his manager Isaac Moses and Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle about the social media post.

Informed sources told The Australian that Folau gave no guarantees he would cease posting such controversial comments.

“He heard Rugby Australia’s point of view, and he’s considering it,” one insider said.

Perhaps the most pointed public comments came from Accenture, digital partner of the Wallabies.

“Ensuring an inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) employees is an integral part of Accenture’s inclusion and diversity strategy,” a spokeswoman said. “We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where people feel safe to be who they are and be their best personally and professionally, and expect this to be fundamental to all our partners.”

A Swisse spokesman said that while the company respected “Israel’s immense talents as a player, we don’t share the views he expressed as an individual”.

Israel Folau.

“Diversity and inclusion are so important in our team and to our culture,” the spokesman said.

HSBC said: “The comments do not reflect our values and we’ve communicated this to Rugby Australia.”

One sponsor, which chose to remain unnamed, said it would look at the terms of its Rugby Australia contract, after what it described as a “wishy-washy” press conference yesterday.

“They didn’t take a stand. There were no real outcomes from yesterday’s meeting. Folau’s entitled to his opinion, but if it’s seen to be something that doesn’t align with our brand, we can terminate. It’s hard to argue termination of our contract with Rugby Australia based on the behaviour of one person, but we could argue termination based on their response.”

But Coca-Cola Amatil, 50 per cent-owner of Rugby Australia’s beer sponsor Yenda, said it understood its responsibility to maintain sponsorship of rugby. “We have a history of supporting football at every level, which we think is good for the game,” a CCA spokesman said.

“Cancelling a sponsorship hurts that vast majority of players and teams which would also reject comments like this.”