Israel Folau has shared a Bible verse to his Instagram just hours after he was sacked from Rugby Australia for uploading a homophobic post to the same platform.
The 30-year-old saw his $4million contract torn up by Rugby Australia on Friday afternoon and became the first Australian athlete dismissed for expressing religious beliefs.
Later that evening, the devout Christian posted a picture of an orange sunset above the ocean with text from Matthew 6:33.
‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,’ the verse read.
Folau (pictured with his wife Maria) is the first Australian athlete dismissed for expressing religious beliefs
The evening Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia, he shared a Bible verse to Instagram
Folau, who captioned the picture with the praying hands emoji, was supported by former rugby teammates Tolu Latu, Curtis Rona and Sekope Kepu.
Latu wrote ‘Amen’ with a love heart emoji, while Rona shared the hashtag #TeamJesus.
On his own Instagram page, Latu shared a picture with Folau and wrote: ‘Will miss playing alongside you my toko!! Ofa atu’.
Rona also paid tribute to Folau, referring to another Bible verse with a picture of the pair dressed in the New South Wales Waratahs uniform.
‘Jesus said to his disciples, ”If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you”,’ the beginning read.
Kepu wrote ‘Will miss going to battle with you my Toko. Ofa atu #TeamJesus’ with a picture of the pair hugging on the pitch.
Kepu wrote on Instagram ‘Will miss going to battle with you my Toko. Ofa atu #TeamJesus’ with a picture of the pair hugging on the pitch
Rona also paid tribute to Folau, referring to another Bible verse with a picture of the pair dressed in the New South Wales Waratahs uniform
On his own Instagram page, Latu shared a picture with Folau and wrote: ‘Will miss playing alongside you my toko!! Ofa atu’
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle said Folau was a ‘great player’ but that everyone has the right to be respected regardless of sexuality, race, gender or religion.
After Folau was sacked, former Wallabies coach Alan Jones said Rugby Australia had ‘internationally destroyed his name for quoting a passage from the bible’.
Folau released an emotional response soon after the decision, thanking Australia for the privilege to represent the country.
‘It has been a privilege and an honour to represent Australia and my home state of New South Wales, playing the game I love,’ Folau said in a statement.
‘I am deeply saddened by today’s decision to terminate my employment and I am considering my options.’
The 30-year-old has the right to appeal and have his case heard at a second code of conduct hearing by a new panel.
But he will reportedly skip that process and head straight to court to argue that he is being persecuted for his religion.
Folau continued to address the sacking by referring to his Christian views but argued his religion should not prevent him from playing the sport.
‘It has been a privilege and an honour to represent Australia and my home state of New South Wales, playing the game I love,’ Folau said in a statement
In a press conference this afternoon, Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle (pictured) said Folau was a ‘great player’ but that everyone has the right to be respected regardless of sexuality, race, gender or religion
‘As Australians, we are born with certain rights, including the right to freedom of religion and the right to freedom of expression,’ his statement continued.
‘The Christian faith has always been a part of my life and I believe it is my duty as a Christian to share God’s word.
‘Upholding my religious beliefs should not prevent my ability to work or play for my club and country.’
Folau extended thanks to his wife Maria for her love and encouragement ‘to stay true to our beliefs’.
‘We have been humbled by the support we have received from family, friends, players, fans and the wider community,’ he said.
‘Thank you also to those who have spoken out in my defence, some of whom do not share my beliefs but have defended my right to express them.’
Ms Castle said Rugby Australia ‘did not choose to be put in this position.’
‘We want to stress that this outcome is a painful outcome for the game. Rugby Australia did not choose to be in this situation, but Rugby Australia’s position remains that Israel, through his actions, left us with no choice but to pursue today’s outcome,’ she said.
‘This has been an extremely challenging period for rugby. This issue has created an unwanted distraction in an important year for the sport and the Wallabies team.
‘Our clear message today is that we need to stand by our values and the qualities of inclusion, passion, integrity, discipline, respect and teamwork.’
Ms Castle said she had told all rugby players in Australia that RA supports their rights to their own beliefs.
‘But when we are talking about inclusiveness in our game, we are talking about respecting differences as well,’ she said.
‘When we say rugby is a game for all, we mean it. People need to feel safe and welcoming in the game, regardless of their race, background or sexuality.
‘When players sign a contract with the Wallabies, they sign up to the values of the team and the sport.
Christian Reds and Rebels players huddle on the pitch after their match last weekend in solidarity with Folau
‘Israel is a great rugby player. We are disappointed and saddened by the by the fact that he will not be seeing out his four-year contract and commitment to the Wallabies and also the Waratahs.’
Ms Castle said she had not told Folau directly about the decision to terminate his contract as there was a ‘process in place’.
‘We understood that the posts Israel made did create some concern among a portion of our community and did create some harm,’ she said.
‘At the end of the day Israel has 72 hours to appeal and that will be left with him to make the decision about where this goes next.
‘This is a decision that will change the landscape for sport across Australia and perhaps internationally.
‘It will be a landmark, it will be important, and it is a big decision. He is a very important player in our game and he has been for a long period of time and we wanted to make sure we took the time to get it right.’
Ms Castle said she had spoken directly to Folau and with his manager about Rugby Australia’s ‘very clear expectations’.
She also said there had been discussions among the lawyers about a payout for Folau but the suggestion had ‘not advanced to a stage where they could be brought to Rugby Australia for consideration’.
The Wallabies star (pictured with his wife), 30, has been sacked from the Australia team
Ms Castle said she was ‘100 per cent’ confident there wouldn’t be a rift in the national side due to Folau’s contract termination.
‘I’m confident because those players understand that everybody has a right to their own views or religious beliefs, and as long as they continue to express them in a respectful way we will continue to support them,’ she said.
‘And I have absolute confidence that Michael Cheika will build a rugby team that is incredibly competitive for the World Cup.’
Ms Castle said she could not imagine Folau playing professional rugby again if his Instagram post remains up and he is unapologetic.
‘We have many players who quote the Bible on their social media platform. We had a prayer circle on the ground between players after the game last weekend and Rugby Australia and the Waratahs are completely supportive of that and that is an expression of their religious views as well,’ she said.
Ms Castle said she was ‘disappointed’ that Folau had not apologised.
‘He hurt some people, it was acknowledged and he did it anyway. It is disappointing in this situation.’
Ms Castle said Rugby Australia’s sponsors had an ‘expectation’ that Rugby Australia has similar values to them.
Folau caused huge controversy with an Instagram post in April that claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they ‘repent’.
He was immediately stood down from his club team, the New South Wales Warratahs.
Folau was issued with a ‘high-level’ breach notice last month after he shared this social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they ‘repent’
After a week-long code of conduct hearing in Sydney, a three-person panel last week retired to decide on Folau’s sanction.
The trial stretched far beyond the rugby pitch, triggering a wider debate in Australia about freedom of speech and the power of employers to control their employees away from the workplace.
The panel made the decision today to terminate his $4million contract.
The offending post, which has attracted 54,000 ‘likes’ and 48,000 comments, remains on Folau’s Instagram page.
Folau has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies and became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer earlier this year.
The fullback of Tongan descent was given a formal warning by Rugby Australia last year after sharing a similar homophobic post that claimed gay people were destined for hell.
He then signed a lucrative contract extension in October.
Folau’s career kicked off in rugby league, where he played 91 NRL games, five Origin games for Queensland and represented Australia on eight occasions.
He also played 13 games for AFL club GWS Giants in 2011-12.