Rugby star Israel Folau has broken his silence after facing a massive backlash for tweeting about his opposition to gay marriage.
Speaking about the issue for the first time ahead of the Wallabies’ Sunday clash with Argentina, the 28-year-old fullback said he was standing firm on his beliefs.
Folau has been in superlative form and said the controversy provoked by his tweet has not affected him.
Rugby star Israel Folau (pictured with wife Maria Tutaia) has broken his silence after facing a massive backlash for tweeting about his opposition to gay marriage
Speaking about the issue for the first time ahead of the Wallabies’ Sunday clash with Argentina, the 28-year-old fullback (pictured) said he was standing firm on his beliefs
In September Folau tweeted: ‘I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions, but personally, I will not support gay marriage’
‘I’m going to stand firm on what I’ve said, that’s what I believe in,’ said Folau, who is a devoted Christian, Rugby.com.au reported.
‘I guess it doesn’t change anything for me and my mindset is still first hand with what’s going on here with the Wallabies.
‘It hasn’t really had an effect on me at all, so I stand firm on what I believe in and what I said.’
In September Folau tweeted: ‘I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions, but personally, I will not support gay marriage’.
Folau has previously appeared on the cover of LGBTI magazine Star Observer with teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper (pictured) and been active in ending discrimination in rugby
The tweet provoked a huge outcry, and the Pentacostal Christian was subjected to a barrage of vile abuse on social media.
Folau was raised as a Mormon but he and his family switched to the Assemblies of God church in 2011.
He has previously appeared on the cover of LGBTI magazine Star Observer with teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper and been active in ending discrimination in rugby.
With six Tests remaining this year Folau is closing in on a rugby record unbroken for 15 years.
Pictured (pictured with wife Maria Tutaia) has been in superlative form and says the controversy provoked by his tweet has not affected him
Folau has scored 11 tries in eight matches this year, and needs just seven more to break the world record for most tries in a calendar year.
Daisuke Ohata of Japan scored 17 in 2002, matched by All Black Joe Rokocoko the next year.
With his eleventh try he passed friend and childhood idol Lote Tuquiri to break the Australian record.
The Australian Rugby Union officially supports same-sex marriage, as does the National Rugby League, the AFL and Cricket Australia.
‘I’m going to stand firm on what I’ve said, that’s what I believe in,’ said Folau (pictured with wife Maria Tutaia)