Huge blow for Rugby Australia as the highly-regarded head of the player’s union sensationally QUITS – as the game fails to settle with Israel Folau
- Prataal Raj, the head of Rugby Union Players’ Association, quit his job on Friday
- Move comes as Rugby Australia failed to reach a settlement with Israel Folau
- Mr Raj will become the CEO of GIVV, a payment technology company
- Do you know more? Contact hannah.moore@mailonline.com
The respected head of Australia’s Rugby Union Players’ Association has sensationally quit his job – as the game failed to settle with star Israel Folau.
Prataal Raj, a corporate lawyer who took on the job in October last year, has signed on to become the CEO of GIVV, a payment technology company. He was previously the COO of the company.
Mr Raj has stood by Folau’s side as he had his $4million contract torn up over social media posts claiming homosexuals would go to hell.
The pair were seen having coffee along with Folau’s wife Maria in April, and RUPA representatives accompanied the star player to a meeting where he was stood down from the Waratahs.
Prataal Raj (pictured) has resigned as the head of the Rugby Union Players’ Association after Rugby Australia failed to come to a settlement with Israel Folau
After Rugby Australia terminated Folau’s contract, the player’s union announced they would undertake an ‘Expression of Faith and Beliefs Review’ with the players the represent.
The first meeting of the review committee was set to follow the conclusion of the Super Rugby and World Rugby Sevens Series seasons.
Folau met with the Fair Work Commission and Rugby Australia on Friday in the first step of his unfair dismissal case, for which he is claiming $10million in damages.
The dumped Wallaby star has said he wants his former employer to admit it was wrong to sack him.
‘I’m hoping for an apology. I’d be happy with that,’ he told reporters as he entered the meeting.
But no settlement was reached on Friday morning, setting up a major court battle.
‘We are disappointed that we were unable to reach settlement with Rugby Australia today,’ Folau’s lawyer George Haros told reporters.
‘It appears as though that unless things change, we’ll be heading to court.’
Folau said he was ‘very, very disappointed by the outcome’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Players Association for comment.
More to come.