Israel Folau provoked a stormy reaction with his incendiary Instagram post claiming ‘hell awaits’ gays © AFP/File / WILLIAM WEST
SYDNEY, Australia, Apr 11 – Rugby Australia on Thursday said it intends to terminate superstar Israel Folau’s contract over his latest anti-gay rant, throwing the Wallabies’ World Cup plans into disarray.
Chief executive Raelene Castle said officials had made repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact the fullback since his incendiary Instagram post claiming “hell awaits” gays on Wednesday.
“In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract,” the statement said.
Folau is Super Rugby’s all-time top try-scorer and one of the game’s most electrifying runners with ball in hand.
A stand-out for the Waratahs and on the international stage during his 73 tests, he had been considered crucial for the Wallabies’ hopes at this year’s World Cup in Japan.
But his extreme religious views have repeatedly rankled with supporters, Rugby Australia and sponsors.
He was reprimanded for homophobic posts last year, but unabashed, on Wednesday the 30-year-old posted an Instagram banner that read: “Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators — Hell awaits you.”
He suggested they should “repent” as “only Jesus saves”.
Castle said in a joint statement with New South Wales Rugby that “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”.
Despite previous scandals Folau signed a multi-season, multi-million dollar contract.
But his fate had appeared to have been sealed earlier in the day when Wallabies team sponsor Qantas publicly expressed its displeasure at the comments.
The airline, whose CEO Alan Joyce is openly gay, said Folau’s social media post was “really disappointing”.
The comments “clearly don’t reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that we support”, Qantas said.
Some leading Australian commentators had called for him to be fired, including former Wallabies forward Peter FitzSimons.
“Israel Folau has to go, and will go,” FitzSimons wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald. “Rugby must surely move quickly, or be made to look ridiculous.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the comments were “damaging” from someone many consider to be a role model.
England’s James Haskell was slightly less diplomatic, describing Folau as “an unreal player” but a “misinformed bigot” who was “spreading hate.”
Gay former Welsh star Gareth Thomas said that no one should “be influenced by his words”.
“Be the better person and be YOU. Whoever YOU is..Hell doesn’t await YOU. Happiness awaits YOU,” he posted.
Folau did get some qualified support on Twitter from former Australian deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who declared himself “distinctly uncomfortable with this pile on.”
“He is a rugby player with a well known very Christian conservative worldview. They employed him and they knew that how can they sack him?”
Folau’s departure from rugby XVs in Australia will fuel speculation about a return to rugby league, which he previously played at international level.
He had also played Australian rules football, before switching to rugby union and winning his first test cap against the British and Irish Lions in 2013, when he scored two tries.
Just weeks ago he expressed a desire to play sevens at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, saying participating in the Games would be “something special”.
During his last international game he scored the Wallabies’ only two tries in a loss to England at Twickenham.
That could be the coda of a storied career that saw him top Super Rugby statistics for most carries made, metres run and offloads and win the John Eales Medal for the best Australian rugby player three times.
