Rugby Australia to sack Israel Folau for anti-gay post

Rugby Australia are set to sack Israel Folau following a social media post in which one of the sport’s top performers, said “hell awaits” gay people.

The body revealed it has made “repeated” unsuccessful attempts to converse with the fullback.

Folau is yet to remove the social media post, despite more than four hours passing since the news of his imminent sacking having broken.

RA chief executive Raelene Castle said she and New South Wales Rugby Union chief Andrew Hore made “repeated attempts” to converse the 30-year-old directly and via his representatives, but each attempt has proved unsuccessful.

The Wallabies star has won 73 caps for the national side and would have been a key part of Australia head coach Michael Cheika’s plans for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in five months.

Castle said: “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.

“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 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.

“It is unacceptable and no language that isolates, divides, or insults people based on any of those factors can be tolerated.”

Folau controversially responded to a social media commentator last April, stating “hell” is where gay people were destined to go, yet the fullback escaped punishment and signed a new four-year contract with Rugby Australia.