Israel Folau committed ‘high-level breach’ of players' code as Rugby Australia push on with contract termination

Folau has 48 hours to accept the sanction or the matter will be referred to a Code of Conduct hearing
EPA

Rugby Australia is pressing ahead with plans to terminate Israel Folau's contract after the governing body served him with a breach notice for his homophobic comments on social media.

The 30-year-old full-back has been warned about his posts in the past, which he says are informed by his Christian beliefs, but his latest one last week has left him facing the sack just months before this year’s World Cup.

Folau posted on Instagram last Wednesday, stating: “Hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators.”

Rugby Australia’s Integrity Unit have now deemed that Folau, who has 73 caps, has committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct warranting termination of his contract.

Folau has 48 hours to accept the sanction or have the matter referred to a Code of Conduct hearing.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said: “Following the events of last year, Israel was warned formally and repeatedly about the expectations of him as a player for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs with regards to social media use and he has failed to meet those obligations.

“It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.”

Folau is refusing to back down over his comments and when asked by the Sydney Morning Herald if he would be content walking away from rugby, the full-back replied: “Absolutely.”

Folau continued: “First and foremost, I live for God now. Whatever He wants me to do, I believe His plans for me are better than whatever I can think. If that’s not to continue on playing, so be it.

“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it. But my faith in Jesus Christ is what comes first.”

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has made his position clear on the matter by stating he would not be able to pick Folau after his latest comments, which he said the full-back voiced in a “disrespectful manner”.

“When you play in the gold jersey, we represent everyone in Australia — everyone. Everyone that is out there supporting us, we don’t pick and choose,” said Cheika.

It comes at the start of a week where England and Saracens No8 Billy Vunipola is due to be grilled by RFU bosses after he published a social media post in support of FOlau.

In a post on Instagram last week, Vunipola wrote how “man was made for woman to pro create... that was the goal, no?”

The 26-year-old played for Saracens on Saturday, coming on as a second-half replacement in their 23-21 defeat at Bristol.

Vunipola was booed by many Bristol supporters, who loudly voiced their displeasure at his social media post.

The No8 will now meet RFU officials this week to explain the post, while Saracens have said they are taking the matter very seriously.

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