Teammates in stunning on-field act as Israel Folau saga takes new twist

Israel Folau reportedly turned down a peace offering from Rugby Australia that could have saved his $4 million contract.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Folau was told that if he deleted his controversial social media post his breach would have been downgraded from ‘high-level’ to mid or low.

Only a high-level breach would allow Rugby Australia to tear up his lucrative contract and kick him out of the code.

But according to the Telegraph Folau refused, effectively sealing his fate.

During his three-day code of conduct hearing, Folau was reportedly given a number of opportunities to show remorse and back down.

However he stuck to his guns and will now pay the price.

Rebels, Reds pray in support of Folau

Australian Super Rugby players from the Melbourne Rebels and the Queensland Reds huddled for a post-match prayer amid reports of anger among the game’s Christians over the handling of the Folau furore.

Wallabies fullback Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, moved a step closer to being sacked by Rugby Australia this week after he was found to have committed a “high-level” code of conduct breach for a post that said hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and others.

The case has upset a number of Folau’s Wallabies team mates who share his religious beliefs, with Reds prop Taniela Tupou writing that RA “might as well sack… all the other Pacific Islands rugby players around the world.”

The Daily Telegraph also reported earlier on Friday that Reds and Rebels players had proposed to gather for prayer on field at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in a “show of solidarity” for Folau.

Following the Rebels’ 30-24 win over the Reds, players from both sides knelt on the pitch with arms locked in a circle as Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa addressed the group with emotion.

The huddle included a number of Australia players, including Queensland captain Samu Kerevi, his Reds team mate Sefa Naivalu and another Wallabies winger in Melbourne’s Marika Koroibete.

Folau faced a three-member panel over three days of hearings.

The panel issued its verdict on Tuesday and said it would consider further submissions before issuing a sanction.

The judgement came more than three weeks after RA and Folau’s Super Rugby club New South Wales Waratahs said they intended to terminate his four-year contract.

Folau has a right to appeal but a high-level breach would be sufficient for RA and the Waratahs to dismiss the 73-test back.

The offending post, which has attracted 54,000 ‘likes’ and 48,000 comments, remains on Folau’s Instagram page.

with AAP