Mate Ma’a Tonga veteran prop Sam Moa joined Israel Folau in standing during a pre-kick-off kneeling ritual in their Super League team’s (Catalan Dragons) clash against the Castleford Tigers on Saturday 8 August.

The ritual has been performed across most mainstream sporting competitions in the last month. It has been heavily scrutinized in the public forum, alleged of being an “empty gesture” in which athletes are pressured to perform less they be accused of racism.