Israel Folau arrives for Rugby Australia showdown

Judgement Day: Israel Folau arrives for Rugby Australia showdown and could have his multimillion dollar contract torn up for saying ‘gays are going to hell’

  • Israel Folau has arrived at Rugby Australia HQ for a code of conduct hearing
  • Folau, 30, will go into battle at the rugby headquarters in Sydney on Saturday 
  • RA could tear up his $4million contract for homophobic social media posts 

Israsel Folau has arrived at Rugby Australia for a landmark code of conduct hearing which could see his multi-million dollar contract torn up.

Folau, 30, will go into battle at the rugby headquarters in Sydney on Saturday to keep his four year, $4million deal after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they ‘repent’. 

The three-person panel of chair John West QC, RA representative Kate Eastman SC and the Rugby Union Players’ Association-elected John Boultbe face the heavy task of Folau’s fate on the field.

Israsel Folau has arrived at Rugby Australia for a landmark code of conduct hearing which could see his multi-million dollar contract torn to pieces

The controversial rugby star (right) pictured with his wife Maria Folau (left)

The controversial rugby star (right) pictured with his wife Maria Folau (left)

The deliberation could carry over to Sunday but RA has already declared the panel are not expected to deliver their decision over the week.  

The controversial rugby star was issued with a ‘high-level’ breach notice last month for taking to Instagram to proclaim ‘hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators’ unless they repent and turn to Jesus. 

The full-back of Tongan descent was warned by RA last year after sharing a similar homophobic post that claimed gays were destined for hell. He then signed his profitable contract extension in October.   

Folau and his barrister Adam Casselden will argue the sporting body did not include a specific social media clause in the new contract.

Further, they will argue the post was from the Bible and not directly Folau’s words. 

Folau was issued with a 'high-level' breach notice last month after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they 'repent'

Folau was issued with a ‘high-level’ breach notice last month after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they ‘repent’

But RA are expected to counter argue that Folau breached the governing body’s broader code of conduct policy and its inclusion policy – despite the exclusion of a clear social media clause. 

Point 1.3 of the players’ code of conduct policy says: ‘Treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability. 

‘Any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination has no place in Rugby’. 

More to come 

Folau, 30, will go into battle at the rugby headquarters in Sydney on Saturday to keep his four year, $4million deal

Folau, 30, will go into battle at the rugby headquarters in Sydney on Saturday to keep his four year, $4million deal

Folau was issued with a 'high-level' breach notice last month for taking to Instagram to proclaim 'hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators' unless they repent and turn to Jesus

Folau was issued with a ‘high-level’ breach notice last month for taking to Instagram to proclaim ‘hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators’ unless they repent and turn to Jesus

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