Israel Folau has become the target of social media backlash for being the only player not to participate in a pre kick-off ‘kneel down’ in round three of the Super League tournament yesterday 2 August, where Folau’s team the Catalan Dragons suffered a heavy defeat to the St Helen Saints 34 – 6. The kneel down ritual was organized by Super League players to show solidarity with “Black Lives Matter” – a controversial activist movement in the United States that protests police brutality and racial profiling against African Americans. Public opinion is mixed over the movement with critics accusing it of promoting riots.

It is not mandatory for players to participate in the ritual and Catalon Dragons coach Steve McNamara told reporters that Folau had the right to refrain.

“We decided we would respect anyone’s personal choice. Certain individuals have their own reasons for that.”

“As a whole club we are completely against racism and we are completely for equal opportunities.”

Others were more curious about Folau’s actions such as rugby league legend Martin Offiah who told Sky News, “Why he didn’t take the knee? We’ll only know if we go and ask him after the game. It’s interesting to see he stood up.”

 “It’s a complex issue as I say, I don’t believe... even with Israel’s first comments which brought him into world notoriety, he said he did it from a point of love and his own understanding.”