Israel Folau fights termination of contract [1]
Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 16:39. Updated on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 20:25.
Israel Folau will fight to keep his $4 million contract intact at a code of conduct hearing with Rugby Australia, expected later this month. He will face a panel of three adjudicators, whose decision will decide the fate of Folau’s rugby career in Australia.
The Wallaby superstar will have to convince the panel that a controversial post [2]he shared on instagram last week was not hate speech as alleged by Rugby Australia. Folau is also expected to plead freedom of speech/expression in his defence.
Regardless of the hearing’s outcome, Wallaby coach Michael Cheika confirmed this week that Folau would not be selected to play at the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
Folau’s controversial instagram post comprised a meme that called on “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” to repent from their sins. Below the meme, Folau stated, "Those that are living in Sin will end up in hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him".
Australian media reports state that Folau has hired a well-known lawyer, Rami Qutami, to assist in his defence hearing. In the past, Mr Qutami has defended rugby league stars Jarryd Hayne and Dylan Walker.