The Mocker: Israel Folau affair proves rugby is now a mugs’ game

Shunning the morally unclean is seemingly as much a secular issue these days as it is a religious one.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle (left) and an Instagram post supporting Israel Folau.

COMMENTARY

What word or phrase best describes Rugby Australia and its management of the Israel Folau social media saga? Many words come to mind, but I prefer a term from the 1986 film Heartbreak Ridge, starring Clint Eastwood as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway of the US Marines. Basically, it is one almighty cluster f***.

According to Folau, as outlined in an Instagram post last month, Hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters, unless of course they repent. No doubt RA CEO Raelene Castle feels like she is there already, if the past few weeks are any indication. As for Folau’s Day of Judgement, that — at least the secular version of it — is this Saturday, when an RA conduct panel decides his fate.

At the core of this issue is whether Folau’s employment contract precludes him from airing his doctrinaire beliefs. His critics are self-styled progressives, but the question of who is on the side of the angels is a vexed one. This deeply religious man is now a pariah among his coach and fellow players, although I suspect this ostracising had more to do with corporate, rather than team, dynamics. Shunning the morally unclean is just as much a secular issue these days as it is a religious one, perhaps even more so.

Israel Folau (no.15) runs out for the Wallabies against South Africa in September, 2017. Picture: Getty Images

Not all are cowed. Queensland Reds and Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou took to Facebook on Tuesday to vent his anger at the treatment of Reds captain and Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi, who had shared his Christian beliefs on Instagram during Easter and later felt compelled to apologise for doing so. “Seriously might as well sack me and all the other Pacific Islands rugby players around the world because we have the same Christian beliefs,” he wrote. Former Wallaby Mark Gerrard, who is of Tongan descent, has warned that termination of Folau’s contract could result in a mass exodus of the code’s Pacific Islander players.

What we are witnessing is in one sense a clash of deities. On one side is Folau’s Christian god, and on the other is RA’s golden calf, or more accurately, kangaroo. At stake is much of the filthy lucre that Qantas provides in the way of sponsorship, upon which RA’s business model appears disproportionately dependent.

It would not be so complicated if Qantas CEO Alan Joyce were your benign corporate sponsor, the kind who was content to flick money RA’s way in return for the red-carpet treatment and promotion of the company brand. But Joyce epitomises the new CEO in that he sees the company transcending its traditional role through effecting social change. What his supporters would say is corporate altruism many regard as corporate activism.

Israel Folau with his wife, Maria Folau, at Kenthurst Uniting Church after a Sunday service. Picture: Hollie Adams

Whether or not RA has acted to mollify Joyce in moving to terminate Folau’s contract is largely irrelevant. As the saying goes, the perception is the reality. Already one sports law expert, professor Jack Anderson of the University of Melbourne, has stated RA may have prejudged the outcome of the conduct process, thus compromising its integrity.

Imagine the irony of RA having to divert much Qantas dosh to pay out Folau’s estimated $4m contract. “To quote from the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 25, Verse 4,” Folau might say at the subsequent press conference in full troll mode, “you shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.”

Regardless of what happens, the consequences of this affair will be longstanding. If he stays, the Folau fissure can only grow bigger. Should, as is most likely, he never again play for the Wallabies and Waratahs, his departure will signify the subordination of an individual’s right to express religious beliefs to corporate whim, however noble. The sport would no longer be a thugs’ game played by gentlemen, but by mugs.

■ Should Rugby Australia sack Israel Folau? To vote in our poll, click the blue Facebook logo at the top right of the post below

Indeed it seems the only way the partnership between RA and Qantas could lead to anything worse would be if both organisations launched a joint commercial airline:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Rugby Australia Airlines. This is your captain Raelene Castle speaking from the flight deck and with me is the co-pilot, Alan Joyce — I mean Michael Cheika. We apologise for the delay in departure. You will have noticed that we’ve just told all Polynesian passengers to leave the aircraft immediately. Be assured this is in accordance with RA’s inclusion policy.

To assist with our departure, please give us your attention for a few minutes while we play this important safety video.

(Pre-safety briefing music)

I’ve been to a circus with the greatest of clowns
From New York to Rio and to Canberra town
But no matter how far or how wide they roam
Rugby Australia’s their home

I was my own man, I loved being free
Now Rugby Australia’s dictating to me
What to say, what to think, what beliefs I can own
And which tracts I must not condone

Union’s sons and daughters
Have played around the world
Away from their family and friends
But the PC world gets bolder and colder
It’s sad to know where this great game will end

And some day we’ll all be together once more
When all of us sheep act the same evermore
We can’t play, we can’t win, we’re a trophy free-zone
It’s Rugby Australia syndrome

We can’t play, we can’t win, we’re a trophy free-zone
We’re Rugby Australia
We’re Rugby Australia
We’re Rugby Australia
CLONES!

Fasten your seatbelt by inserting the clasp into the buckle and tying it tightly across your waist. If you are the outspoken type but still wish to continue with your flight, fasten your seatbelt tightly across your mouth.

All bags must be stored in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you. Note that we said ‘bags’, you religious types, not baggage. RA strictly prohibits baggage on our aircraft.

Your phone and tablet should already be in flight mode. If they aren’t, please do so now. This aircraft is enabled with wi-fi for your convenience, however, please exercise discretion regarding what comments you make on social media. Please also note you may be asked to justify why you activated the ‘like’ tab on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts that we deem unacceptable. Failure to provide an acceptable answer may result in you being barred from flying RA in future.

There is a lifejacket under your seat. Its colour is most appropriate: it reflects RA’s ability to administer the great game of rugby while withstanding pressure from external stakeholders. If required, put it over your head and tie the strap. Pull the red tag for that outraged puffer fish look so beloved of social justice activists. There’s also a whistle you can use to alert the crew if you hear any unacceptable conversation from a fellow passenger that breaches RA’s inclusion policy.

Please note that incendiary topics are prohibited and this aircraft is fitted with woke detectors to ensure you can be recognised as a virtuous corporate citizen. In the past you might, for example, have worn a specially designed “acceptance ring” to symbolise your support for same-sex marriage. You could perhaps consider changing your passenger profile from a binary pronoun to they/them. Today’s prize goes to the young man who insisted on sitting in seat 18C to signal his support for the Racial Discrimination Act and his opposition to hate speech!

For important safety information on how to prevent DVT, please read the health and safety information in your in-flight magazine. What’s that — you can’t find anything in the magazine on Deep Vein Thrombosis? Madam, please, I’m talking about Divisive and Vitriolic Teachings, which is far more of a toxic threat. And in the event someone says anything unacceptable or intolerant, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead compartment. Place it over your mouth, tighten the strap and inhale deeply until you compose yourself.

Please also note we will not actually be flying today, and we are relying solely on the pushback tractor to tow the aircraft to our destination. Unfortunately in our haste to engage counsellors, communication consultants, diversity advisers, and sensitivity trainers, we forgot to recruit pilots, flight attendants, and aircraft maintenance engineers.

Nonetheless the crew are here to help you on your journey through life, so follow their instructions at all time. Sit back, plug in your headsets and listen to our new theme song. Take it away Talking Heads with their hit ‘Road to Nowhere’!