Rugby Australia has tonight finally concluded its lengthy code of conduct hearing over Israel Folau, finding the Waratahs and Wallabies fullback guilty of breaching the players’ code of conduct.
The three-person panel charged with overseeing the hearing found Folau committed a “high-level breach” of the code with a controversial social media post in April.
The full Folau saga is yet to reach its conclusion, however, with the panel awaiting further submissions by both the RA camp and Folau camp on an appropriate penalty.
Given what both parties have been through, however, it is hard to envision a scenario where Folau stays under contract with rugby.
Additionally, News Corp’s Jamie Pandaram said in a tweet that a high-level breach is the only level of breach that can be punished with termination of contract.
The full statement by RA reads as follows;
The Code of Conduct hearing in the matter of Israel Folau has concluded in Sydney today.
A panel of John West QC (Chair), Kate Eastman SC, and John Boultee AM presided over the three-day hearing which commenced on May 4.
The panel has today provided a judgement that Israel Folau committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct with his social media posts on April 10, 2019.
The panel will now take further written submissions from the parties to consider the matter of sanction.
A further update will be provided after the panel delivers its decision on sanction.
Neither Folau nor a representative of RA have commented on the verdict yet. Despite Folau’s earlier claims that he’d walk away from rugby in the event the conduct demands clashed with his faith, the prospect of an appeal in the event of a guilty verdict has long been touted.
Related
After a promising four-year stint in the NRL, Israel Folau came across to rugby following his one-year experiment with the AFL’s GWS Giants and made an almost immediately positive impact on the field.
In a six-year career with the Waratahs, the 30-year-old scored 60 tries in 96 matches and was pivotal in the club’s 2014 Super Rugby triumph. He replicated his strong form on the international stage, crossing the line 32 times in 62 Tests – making him Australia’s fourth-highest try-scorer of all time – while being awarded the John Eales medal on three occasions.
But the relationship didn’t stay rosy forever. In September of 2017, in the midst of campaigning around the plebiscite on same sex marriage, Folau attracted some controversy for publicly opposing same sex marriage one day after the Wallabies officially announced their support for change.
While Folau was not sanctioned for that remark, he attracted further controversy when, in April of last year, he claimed God’s plan for homosexuals was “HELL… Unless they repent their sins and turn to God,” when quizzed by another Instagram user on his views.
Despite condemnation from several groups – including Wallabies sponsor Qantas – Rugby Australia again elected not to sanction Folau for his comments. Folau defended himself at the time, claiming allegations of homophobia and bigotry “could not be further from the truth”, while also saying he was happy to walk away from the game if his faith would conflict with the commercial demands of professional rugby.
But on April 10 of this year, Folau found himself in the spotlight again, posting a controversial image on Instagram that listed homosexuals alongside drunks, liars and thieves, claiming hell awaited them unless they repented.
This controversy proved to be the final straw for Rugby Australia, who moved immediately to terminate Folau’s contract.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Incorrect
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
It's related to the word 'fornication' which is a sin.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Because religious expression is normally considered differently to other comments, if his religion involved monkeys, Bakers post may have been considered differently. But, if his religion doesn’t involve monkeys, then the comparison to Folau could be considered differently.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't know. But I know the law allows for it, and I know that religious organisations are fighting for it.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Do you think there is discrimination against gay teachers? I would think all teachers in religious schools would be required to teach consistently with the beliefs required to be taught by the employer organisation. 80% of Australian voters supported gay marriage until people like you started campaigning for it; keep up the good work!
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Post a link.
QED
Roar Rookie
Its not about religious beliefs, its whether or not a business believes the public actions of one of it’s employees that are contrary to the code of conduct and standards that business sets. Will affect their business and how that business responds. You or i may have different ideas of what that code of conduct or standards should be and that’s ok. However i think RA was quite clear about their’s . Did they act lawfully or with due regard to procedural fairness ? That’s another question i am not qualified to answer. My example from the BBC shows what i think most business would do in these types of situations and its not about religious beliefs.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
GrayH: Not according to a pilot on the ABC yesterday who stated several pilots had committed suicide and that the only job he could get was mowing lawns. Still, believe whatever stupid thing you like, you are free to do that.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Are monkeys involved with Baker's religious beliefs?
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
I like the look of my new team for the world Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSvWo4eh6U&feature=youtu.be
Flyman
Roar Rookie
He's the CEO, he gets to make the final call. 99.9% of the time he will be backed by the board as the only thing they care about are $$$.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Yes, there should be limits - you shouldn't have to abide by far right or far left political leanings, but I think most reasonable people wouldn't think that the current code of conduct isn't hard to abide by. Still haven't answered my question though - although I must commend your side stepping - if a few more players possessed your level of skill, we may be in a better position.
QED
Roar Rookie
People are entitled to free speech but others are free to respond and criticise. It doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Exhibit one Danny Baker. Prominent BBC radio presenter. Large organisation, high profile employee, whose public actions can materially effect that business, tweets contrary to the standards and code of conduct of that organisation – gone. “quod erat demonstrandum”
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey KP, Or to dumb the thumb. An appropriate law then I take it ?
Boomeranga
Roar Rookie
They did that last time. How many times should they only do that before taking the next step is justified? Some people genuinely don't think he has the right to run others down just so he can feel confident about getting into heaven. RA didn't cause this cluster. Izzy did, and there is as much grey around his motivations for continuing this fight as there is around RAs.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Well the only real issue was re-signing Folau. And they were probably damned either way there.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Doesn't the panel (including Kate Eastman) decide though?
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Oaf Check your dictionary. You describe a law designed to (appropriately) dumb the tongue. Sincerely KP
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Izzy's instagram post is getting great coverage on this and other sites.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Perhaps I should have put that better, it is still the same continuing stuff up by the ARU. Any one with half a brain would have predicted this outcome from the way they managed the first time. Clearly, who ever does their business strategy, plays chess like it is snakes and ladders.