Israel Folau Challenges Rugby Australia's Punishment Over Anti-Gay Post

Rugby star Israel Folau has requested a Code of Conduct hearing from Rugby Australia after it was announced his contract would be torn up over an anti-gay social media post.

The Wallabies and Waratahs player wrote on Instagram last week that homosexuals and other sinners would go to hell if they didn't repent and change their ways.

It was criticised by politicians, rugby stars and fans across the world.

Rugby Australia acted quickly, condemning the post and announcing they would seek to terminate his contract and gave him 48 hours to respond to their Breach Notice.

Seemingly at the 11^th hour, Folau has responded and will take the matter further.

A statement from RA said: "Israel has responded formally today to request a code of conduct hearing which, under the circumstances, was not an unexpected outcome. We will now work to confirm a date for the hearing as soon as possible.

"After the date for the hearing is confirmed Rugby Australia and the NSW Rubgy Union will make no further comment on the matter until the Code of Conduct process has concluded."

The hearing will involve a representative of RA, a representative of the players' union RUPA and an independent person given the green light from both organisations.

Folau will be able to state his case in a bid to keep his job playing for Australia.

It'll be a tough hearing, with Rugby Australia under a lot of pressure. The body has to weigh up the fact that it's a World Cup year with the fact Folau was seriously cautioned last year for essentially doing the exact same thing.

In response to last week's post, RA CEO Raelene Castle said in a statement: "Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport.

"Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality.

"As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action."

No official date has been set for the hearing.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Entertainment, News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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