Israel Folau reveals how he got caught up in ‘all the sins God hates’ including ‘alcohol and fornication’ – after saying bushfires were ‘punishment’ for legalising gay marriage
- The former Wallabies star delivered 20-minute sermon over the weekend
- Folau said he managed to ‘resist temptations’ during first year playing football
- But he said he lost his way the following year in his second season in the NRL
Israel Folau has opened up on his ‘sins’ and getting caught up in ‘drinking, fornication’ as a young player, but says his faith changed his life.
The former Wallabies star delivered an end-of-year sermon at the Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Sydney, the same church where he previously told worshippers bushfires were ‘God’s punishment’ for legalising same-sex marriage.
In the 20-minute sermon over the weekend, Folau said he managed to ‘resist temptations’ such as ‘women and smoking’ in 2007 during his first year in the NRL.
Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau delivers a sermon at the Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Sydney
‘In that first year, I started to see the things that were happening off the field,’ he told the congregation.
‘I was faced with temptations of going out to the nightclub every week. Alcohol – I never experienced it when I was at home. Smoking, fornication, women – I never experienced it – it was something that was new to me.
‘In that first year … I never really got caught up in that.’
But Folau said he lost his way the following year as an 18-year-old.
‘In that second year I got caught up in all the temptations… Things like drinking, fornication – all these things that God hates,’ he said.
Israel Folau and his wife, former netball player Maria Folau, pose together in a selfie posted on social media
Folau said that although he had finally achieved his life-long dream of playing sport professionally, he felt unsatisfied.
He said he would sit in his room, ‘hungover’, and wonder ‘where’s the satisfaction?’
‘I never felt fulfilled. At all. And I had everything that I ever wanted. Everything everyone out there was trying to chase. Things like money, cars, fame, fortune,’ he said.
Folau said he was able to overcome his past ‘sins’ and finally felt fulfilled through his faith in God.
The Instagram post that destroyed Israel Folau’s rugby union career was labelled homophobic
Folaucelebrates during the 2018 Rugby Union Championship game between the Pumas of Argentina and the Wallabies at the Ernesto Martearena Stadium in Salta
The sermon came after Folau reached an out-of-court settlement with Rugby Australia after lodging a $14 million compensation claim for wrongful termination in the wake of his infamous homophobic post on social media.
The Folau’s posted a video on social media after the settlement thanking God for ‘his guidance and strength’.
He also thanked the Australian Christian Lobby.
Folau didn’t announce any plans to return to football – and said he looked forward to ‘moving on with his life’ to ‘focus on his faith’.
Israel Folau runs with the ball during match two of the State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium in 2008
He also apologised for any ‘hurt or harm caused’ but did not step back from his original anti-gay claim.
Folau played 62 Tests for the Wallabies and became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer earlier this year while playing for the NSW Waratahs.
His career kicked off in rugby league, where he played 91 NRL games for Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos, five Origin games for Queensland and represented Australia on eight occasions.
He also played 13 games for AFL club GWS Giants in 2011-12.