The stunning blunder that could decide $4 million Israel Folau saga

A stunning new report claims Rugby Australia may have made a huge error that could backfire in the Israel Folau saga.

It was previously believed that RA had inserted some sort of clause into Folau’s recently-renewed contract that prohibited him from posting his controversial religious beliefs on social media.

But in a startling twist, The Daily Telegraph is reporting that never happened.

The new report claims RA tried and failed to have a social media provision inserted into the contract, only after the Wallabies star signed it.

But Folau refused because the deal had been done, and the contract remained a standard one.

RA will instead reportedly argue that Folau breached his code of conduct by vilifying people based on their sexuality, with the Telegraph quoting lawyers who believe employees will be able to sue should be avoid being sacked.

“If one employee is in the workplace engaging in behaviour which is vilifying another worker based on sexual orientation, that could be in breach of the Equal Opportunity Act or the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act,” said Kamal Farouque of Maurice Blackburn.

“They could take action against Rugby Australia as their employer under vicarious liability for the conduct of the employee, or they could take action against the individual Folau.”

Rugby Australia on Monday served the Test and NSW Waratahs back with a breach notice over his posts on social media platforms last week.

The RA Integrity Unit deemed that Folau had committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct, warranting termination of his employment contract.

Folau requests hearing

Folau has officially requested a code of conduct hearing over his breach notice from Rugby Australia, as his multi-million dollar contract hangs in the balance.

Unless successful at the hearing, Folau faces the sack after being issued with a “high-level” breach notice over controversial social media posts he made on April 10.

Rugby Australia says it will now make arrangements with the Rugby Union Players’ Association to organise the hearing.

with AAP