Jamie Pandaram: Why Rugby Australia should allow Israel Folau the chance to return for farewell

Six years ago, Jamie Pandaram demanded Israel Folau be sacked after posting homophobic content on social media. Now, he thinks Folau deserves a farewell during the Lions tour. Here’s why.

Jamie Pandaram writes, Israel Folau should be allowed to represent the Wallabies again. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Six years ago I urged Rugby Australia to sack Israel Folau when he posted homophobic content on social media.

I stand by that, and believe that RA’s actions at the time were justified, not only to remain an inclusive sport, but protect their commercial viability due to sponsor and supporter backlash. .

However, I do also believe that as a society, there comes a time to put differences aside and move on.

Today, my feeling is that enough time has passed, and Folau should be allowed to play in the invitational trans-Tasman team against the British & Irish Lions in July.

Folau wants to make a Wallabies return. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

I still disagree with Folau’s post, and I have told him so.

I will never condone the vilification of a minority group, be it based on sexuality, gender, ethnicity or religion. That insults my moral code. And I can’t agree with attempted justification that religious expression allows you to vilify any such group.

Until this week, Folau and I had not conversed in six years. That is understandable given my commentary on the matter in 2019.

But in our conversation, we were able to find some common ground.

I don’t believe that he has a hatred of the gay community, or wants to intentionally hurt them, despite the Christian texts he so deeply believes in.

As was written in the joint statement released by Folau and Rugby Australia upon settlement of his unfair dismissal claim in court, the former Wallabies full-back’s post reflected his “genuinely held religious beliefs” and that he “did not intend to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the post”.

“Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity,” the statement read.

Folau’s Wallabies departure caused a firestorm. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

It is a fine line.

Posting that “hell awaits” gays is inflammatory.

But since then, Folau has not made any public remarks that could be viewed as bigoted, or deliberately targeting, of the gay community.

That tells me that in his mind, when Folau made the post, he was sharing views on a range of purported sins in The Old Testament that are widely believed by millions of Christians around the world, and he wasn’t driven by hatred of the gay community but by a vigorous passion of his own religion.

Folau walked away with a multimillion dollar settlement and eventually resumed his career in Japan, while changing eligibility from Australia to Tonga in 2022.

RA were left to pick up the pieces of a disastrous contractual saga that saw several sponsors walk, a legal minefield of a case that cost them money they could ill afford to lose, and several fans who deserted the code believing Folau was ill-treated.

It remains such a taboo subject to this day, that several of Folau’s teammates still refuse to publicly comment on it.

Rugby fans also remain divided, however an overwhelming 72 per cent of News Corp Australia readers are in favour of Folau playing in the AUNZ Invitational team against the Lions at Adelaide Oval on July 12.

The former NRL and AFL player remains a popular sports figure. Picture: AAP / Flavio Brancaleone

The 35-year-old caused much damage to Australian rugby, but he also did a lot of good. He brought fans to stadiums, engaged with supporters, broke the Super Rugby try-scoring record in incredibly quick time, and helped the Wallabies make the 2015 World Cup final.

He was banished, but how long should he be punished for?

Folau would like to play in the match as a farewell to Australian supporters, and give his family one last chance to see him play in the country he was born in, represented, and will raise his children in.

While RA and Lions executives can argue that Folau technically doesn’t qualify because he is not eligible for Australia, that is surely an issue that can be sorted over a level-headed conversation.

If he plays, surrounded by All Blacks, Wallabies and Lions stars, Folau would still be the most watched man on the field. That is the magic he retains from the feats he has previously delivered.

Had Folau made any offensive remarks in the past six years, I would have opposed him having anything to do with the Lions series.

How long should Folau’s punishment really last? Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

But now, it feels uncomfortable to deny a home farewell for the Wallabies’ fourth highest tryscorer, and winner of three John Eales medals.

Former Wallabies and Reds coach John Connolly took the Queensland Rugby Union to court over unfair dismissal in 2017 and won a $150,000 payout. Recently, Connolly was inducted into Queensland Rugby’s hall of fame.

Eddie Jones left many Wallabies fans feeling betrayed after denying for months he had applied for the Japan coaching job, only to take the Japan coaching job months after leading Australia to their worst ever World Cup result.

Jones will be welcomed back with open arms at Coogee Oval next month when he brings Japan’s under-23s side to play Randwick on April 15.

Rugby has shown a capacity to forgive.

The game now has a chance to show that it can let old wounds heal.

Folau should be given an Australian farewell.

Originally published as Jamie Pandaram: Why Rugby Australia should allow Israel Folau the chance to return for farewell