Israel Folau was once the poster boy for a gay rugby tournament

Israel Folau was once the poster boy for the world’s biggest gay rugby tournament, but his career is now likely over because of a string of anti-homosexual online posts. 

Rugby Australia said on Thursday it will tear up the 30-year-old’s contract, ‘in the absence of mitigating circumstances’, after he took to Instagram in the latest of his social media attacks to proclaim ‘hell awaits’ gay people.

It came as previously unseen footage emerged, showing Folau tell parishioners at his local church in Sydney that celebrating Christmas and Easter is for ‘heathens’.  

The Wallabies star’s repeated anti-gay slurs are in stark contrast to his position in 2014, when was the face of the Bignham Cup, the ‘biennial world championships of gay and inclusive rugby’. 

He appeared on the cover of the Star Observer, a magazine for the LGBTI community, under the headline: ‘Big Boys And Their Balls.’ 

Folau appeared on the cover of the Star Observer, a magazine for the lesbian, gay bisexual transgender and intersex communities, under the headline: ‘Big Boys And Their Balls’

Rugby Australia have slammed Israel Folau (right, with wife Maria left) for his latest homophobic social media post - as the scandal threatens to derail the star player's career

Rugby Australia have slammed Israel Folau (right, with wife Maria left) for his latest homophobic social media post – as the scandal threatens to derail the star player’s career

A Bingham Cup spokesman said at the time Folau was a ‘strong advocate for ending all forms of the discrimination in sport’.   

But five years later, it seems the cross-code star’s stance has drastically changed. 

On Wednesday, Folau reiterated previous comments when he said all ‘drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters’ are sinners. 

Both Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union made attempts to contact Folau and his representatives, having previously warned his about his online slurs.

But he didn’t respond to either organisation, Rugby Australia said, as it announced the probable end of his career.

Folau, 30, shared a 'warning' to 'drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters' to Instagram on Wednesday (pictured), saying 'hell awaits' them

Folau, 30, shared a ‘warning’ to ‘drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters’ to Instagram on Wednesday (pictured), saying ‘hell awaits’ them

The devout Christian has shared similar sentiments in the past and was warned by Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle. Pictured: Folau's post on Wednesday

The devout Christian has shared similar sentiments in the past and was warned by Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle. Pictured: Folau’s post on Wednesday

‘In the absence of mitigating circumstances, it is our intention to terminate his contract,’ an RA statement on Thursday.   

Meanwhile, Folau gave a sermon four weeks ago at his local church, where he said celebrating Christmas and Easter was against the word of God. 

‘When it comes to the period around December 25 the world celebrates Christmas and things like Easter and all this stuff, again that’s another tradition that is man-made, we always shave to go back to what the bible says in regards to what He says,’ Folau said. 

JEREMIAH CHAPTER 10 VERSE READ BY FOLAU

Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

He then cited the passage from Jeremiah Chapter 10. 

‘God is clearly saying, ”Do not follow the way of the heathen”, which is what He’s speaking of these people here, the custom, these people do it in vain.’

He continued:  ‘The problem with a lot of people today is they don’t read the word, they go to church on Sunday, listen to what the pastor says, and that’s it. They don’t go back home to check for what the word of God says.’  

In the wake of his expected sacking from rugby union, ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie indicated there’d be no place for Folau in the NRL.

‘Israel Folau doesn’t pass our inclusiveness culture, which is a policy strongly supported by the ARLC,’ Beattie told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘And after talking to some commissioners tonight (Thursday), we don’t support him playing rugby league again.’

One month ago Folau gave a sermon at his local church (pictured) where he said celebrating Christmas and Easter was against the word of god and wrong

One month ago Folau gave a sermon at his local church (pictured) where he said celebrating Christmas and Easter was against the word of god and wrong

Chief executive Todd Greenberg had earlier declined to comment – at least while Folau remained a contracted rugby player.

Last year Greenberg said Folau could be welcomed back to the sport, but also indicated his use of social media to espouse his deeply held religious beliefs, sometimes at the expense of others, could be an issue.

In 2018 Folau had been called out by Rugby Australia for other controversial social media posts.

‘All our athletes have to be careful,’ Greenberg told the Sydney Morning Herald last April.

‘There are young boys and girls who will read that (anti-homosexual posts) and find it hard to deal with because Israel has a large profile.’ 

The devout Christian had shared similar sentiments in the past – and was previously warned not to do so by Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle. 

Widely considered as one of the game’s best players, Folau became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try scorer on Saturday. 

A Rugby Australia spokesman said Folau's post was 'unacceptable' and that the organisation's integrity unit was 'engaged on the matter'. Pictured: Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle

A Rugby Australia spokesman said Folau’s post was ‘unacceptable’ and that the organisation’s integrity unit was ‘engaged on the matter’. Pictured: Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle

His post on Wednesday warned that those ‘living in sin will end up in Hell unless you repent’. 

‘Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him,’ Folau posted alongside two bible verses. 

‘The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free,’ Folau tweeted.

In April 2018, Folau said gay people deserved to go to ‘HELL… unless they repent of their sins and turn to God’.

Folau made the comment on Instagram in reply to a question about God’s plan for gay people.

His comments forced a meeting with Ms Castle and Waratahs chief executive Andrew Hore, after major Wallabies sponsor Qantas said Folau’s statements were ‘very disappointing’.

Ms Castle acknowledged Folau had caused ‘grief to some people’.

‘Israel has presented his situation to us, where his views are, where his beliefs are,’ Ms Castle said.

‘But at the same time Rugby Australia has also got a policy and a position of inclusion and using social media with respect.’ 

RUGBY AUSTRALIA AND NSW RUGBY UNION STATEMENT REGARDING ISRAEL FOLAU: 

Widely considered as one of the game's best players, Folau (pictured) became Super Rugby's all-time leading try scorer on Saturday

Widely considered as one of the game’s best players, Folau (pictured) became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try scorer on Saturday

‘Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union have made repeated attempts to contact Israel both directly and via his representatives since 6.30pm on Wednesday, and at this point he has failed to communicate directly with either organisation. 

‘Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport. We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts. 

‘Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality. 

‘Rugby is a sport that continuously works to unite people. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome in our game and no vilification based on race, gender, religion or sexuality is acceptable and no language that isolates, divides or insults people based on any of those factors can be tolerated. 

‘As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action. ‘In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.’

 

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