Israel Folau has 48 hours to respond to a breach notice from Rugby Australia, or his contract will be torn up.
He has 48 hours to respond to a breach notice from Rugby Australia, or his contract will be torn up.
Israel Folau’s rugby union career was called into question after an Instagram post which said that homosexuals were destined for hell and quoted a passage from the bible.
He has won 73 caps and was expected to play at this year’s World Cup in Japan.
Full-back Folau, who signed a four-year deal with Sydney-based Super Rugby side the Waratahs in March and had a contract with Rugby Australia until 2022, escaped punishment for similar comments last year.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle and NSW Rugby Union CEO, Andrew Hore said its integrity unit deemed that Folau had committed a breach of the professional players’ code of conduct warranting termination of his contract.
“At the end of the day, Israel will make his decision on whether he chooses to accept the breach notice. But the Integrity Unit has recommended termination as part of that.”
Ms Castle said that when she had met with Folau last Friday, the player had been “unapologetic” of his social media post.
“He was unapologetic for his posts and his position and that left us with no option but to move forward to the position that we’re in today. But there was a number of meetings — documented meetings — that were put in writing, both verbally and in writing, to Israel about our expectations. We want employees and players to understand the wider value set of Rugby Australia. They can use their large social media followings and their positivity to do so many great things for this sport, and 99 per cent of the players do that in this way. We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next 48 hours.”
He said his faith comes first and would not back down from his controversial comments.
The 30 year old regularly attends The Truth of Jesus Christ Church which holds its religious services at the Kenthurst Uniting Church.
Rugby Australia has not yet asked Folau to remove the post.