Israel Folau is set to tackle Rugby Australia head on as he fights to save his Wallabies career.
Folau maintained a stony silence after holding crisis talks amid RA’s threat to tear up his multi-million-dollar contract.
Supported by his professional netballer wife Maria, the three-time John Eales Medallist spent Friday morning at a Sydney cafe with Rugby Union Players’ Association boss Prataal Raj and another RUPA representative plotting his next move.
He refused to talk when approached by a TV reporter, but it’s understood the fallen Wallabies superstar told Raj he wanted to observe his right to challenge RA’s planned sacking at a code of conduct hearing.
RA boss Raelene Castle said in a statement on Thursday night the governing body had been unable to “directly contact” Folau to advise him of her intention to terminate his $4 million four-year contract.
Castle later took to Twitter to clarify that she’d been in “in constant contact” with Folau’s manager Isaac Moses in the 24 hours since his latest online attacks on homosexuals while proclaiming drunks, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters were also destined for hell.
“He (Moses) did reach Israel, however I was unable to speak with him,” Castle tweeted.
“In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract,” RA’s statement on Thursday night said.
Beyond his fierce commitment to his faith, it remains a mystery as to what had motivated Folau to continue his social media outbursts after being warned last year by Castle to express his views in a “respectful” manner.
It would seem incomprehensible that the code-hopping ace would risk his career – and the opportunity to win a World Cup this year with the Wallabies – if he didn’t have another playing option.
But with ARL Commission chairman Peter Beattie slamming the door shut on Folau attempting to return to the NRL, it would appear a move overseas – or retirement – would be his only options if unsuccessful in any appeal against RA’s intention to cut him free.
Beattie said the former Test and State of Origin rugby league star “fails the NRL’s inclusiveness culture”.
Folau’s spectacular fall from grace even had the prime minister weighing in on Friday.
“I thought they were terribly insensitive comments and, obviously, that was a matter for the ARU and they’ve taken that decision,” Scott Morrison said.
“It is important that people act with love, care and compassion to their fellow citizens and to speak sensitively to their fellow Australians.”
Sport Australia boss Kate Palmer commended Rugby Australia’s strong stance against discrimination and vilification and urged all sports to follow suit.
But former Wallabies coach Alan Jones slammed RA’s threat to sack Folau, saying the decision had “completely corrupted” free speech in Australia.
