Catalans Dragons chairman Bernard Guasch has hailed the controversial signing of Israel Folau as a major “coup” for rugby league.
The French Super League club have been widely criticised following Tuesday’s announcement that they had signed the Australian dual-code international, who was sacked by Rugby Australia last May for homophobic social media posts.
Guasch told local newspaper L’Independente: “When the moods of each other (side) have subsided, we will judge that this player is perhaps the biggest coup in the history of this sport and of (the club) in France.
“We will then savour the exemplary player he is. I know he will delight the Catalan public.
“We do not share or tolerate his opinions and we are totally committed to making our club and our sport open and welcoming to everyone.
“We think that these kind of remarks should not be expressed publicly, in particular by an athlete of high level.
“Leaving aside what he said recently, he can become a real example for young people, someone who trains hard and has an impeccable lifestyle and thoroughness. He is a hard worker.”
Catalans ignored the warnings of both the Rugby Football League and Super League with their signing of the 30-year-old Folau on a one-year contract.
Guasch’s comments came after Keegan Hirst, the only openly gay rugby league professional, called Folau’s signing a “slap in the face” for the sport’s bid for inclusivity.
“It is really disappointing and very frustrating,” Hirst told the BBC.
“Anyone who has a moral compass or values, this is alienating and undermining those people.”
Folau, who said “hell awaits” gay people in a social media post, has promised not to repeat his comments during his time with the Dragons but Hirst, who came out in 2017, is disappointed that he has not shown any remorse.
“Everyone deserves a second chance but to get a second chance I think you have to be sorry for the mistake you made and show some remorse and want to better yourself and move on – that’s not the case,” he said.
“That’s not the case: all his anti-gay sentiment has not been taken down, he is not sorry about it….
“Israel Folau has mentioned this repeated times. He is entitled to his beliefs – he is not going to change them because if he was he would have done it when they were tearing up his multi-million dollar Australian rugby union contract and he hasn’t, so he’s not going to.”
Former Wales international Gareth Thomas, who is gay and also a former dual-code international, is equally upset by the Folau signing and says he will not watch the player.
“So Folau has joined the @SuperLeague. Really upset by this as the game, players, and fans were so good to me,” tweeted Thomas, who had an 18-month stint in rugby league playing for Crusaders and Wales in 2010 and 2011 after the end of his rugby union career.
“All I hope is that as much as Folau wanted his right to speak, then players and fans alike are aloud (sic) their right to respond. I will never watch him.”
Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone has condemned the signing and Wigan have declared their home game against the Catalans in March a ‘Pride Day’ in response.
St Helens chairman Eamoon McManus also added his voice to what the Super League champions called the “chorus of objections” over Folau’s signing.
He said in a statement: “In alliance with all other clubs that I have spoken to across the game, we believe Israel Folau’s public comments are totally contrary to the essential core values of our club and sport which we have worked so hard to establish and we sympathise with the many people associated with our game who are hurt and angered by his signing.”
Folau could make his first appearance for the Dragons in round two of Super League on Sunday week at Wakefield, who plan to follow Wigan’s lead by reaching out to the LGBT groups.
Purdo
Roar Rookie
KCOL: This is even better. I guess last year Izzy wanted to be a hero for Jesus, but he has drawn back a bit now that he's not in the glare of Aussie publicity. Once bitten, twice shy. I think he's a terrific winger, and I'm glad he has had the sense to agree to a specific contract this time.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Purdo “ Catalans .... have dissociated themselves at the outset from his social/religious views. I think all is OK.“ Just a small but significant point that seems to slip some people’s notice- Catalans have demanded that Izzy forgoes his mad tweets, or he is out. Izzy has agreed. This is all that RA asked for last year and was the sticking point for Izzy, then the free speech warriors, religionists, and certain other folk of illogical opinion. Izzy has agreed to temper his public comments. Those still bleating here about ‘justice for Izzy’ are failing to acknowledge that Izzy was always going to tow the line to get another job. This has nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with fair exchange and calm relationships with sponsors.
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Update: Word on the street is that Izzy reckons if it wasn’t for RA he would be leading the US Democratic nomination in Iowa right now.
brookvalesouth
Roar Rookie
Silly question. Of course I do. The big difference is how those players react. Folau hasn’t shown any semblance of remorse for the pain his words have caused people in the LGBTQ+ community.
aussierad
Roar Rookie
it doesn't matter too much to him now because he already has a good payout from RA.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Who cares :) 2 men and a dog play rugby league in France. Folau can make 2nd dog.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
God bless you Israel Folau. And God bless you Margaret Court too.
aussierad
Roar Rookie
Stillmissit, if you look at the response of the French fans in social media, there appears to be significant support for Folau. The world is not black and white, there are more than 50 shades of grey in people's opinions on various subjects.
aussierad
Roar Rookie
2020, Rugbyfan in east perth, and there are a lot worse things that what Izzy believes in happening and once again, some of the hysteria shows how incredibly salty they are. Take Keegan Hirst , a gay footballer in the SL, who has gone on social media, TV shows going on and on about Folau compared to the response of the fabulous MP Tim Wilson, who is also gay.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Ken: Not sure if this is still alive but have a look at this link for a modern take on words in argument. https://quillette.com/2020/01/29/an-orwelexicon-for-bias-and-dysfunction-in-psychology-and-academia/ Here's one;- Kafkatrap: A rhetorical move whereby protesting your innocence is interpreted as proving your guilt. Example: If you deny that you are a racist, you are a racist.
Basil
Guest
Fantastic news great to see Folau playing league again!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Thanks, Mushi, appreciate the in-depth reply. Go read it again but slowly this time.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Mushi: No mate, just wait until it happens to you and you are unemployable due to something stupid you said, you won't have to wait long.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Good signing. One of the best players in either code. Reading to go !
Rugbyfan In East Perth
Guest
Very True! Folau has essentially lost the battle (having his contract with RA torn up) won the war (if true paid out $millions and signed another contract ($400K) and its hard for people (and media) to accept that.
Rugbyfan in East Perth
Guest
Well that's one of the main points many of Folau's supporters have argued. It's the double standard that irks the most and has disappointed many people.
Rugbyfan in East Perth
Guest
"I do not think any club should be wanting people like Folau to be promoting the game, their sponsors, their fans etc". - Do you hold the same standard to all the players in the NRL and Super Rugby involved in domestic violence, sexual attacks, drug use, drunk and disorderly, drunk driving etc?
mushi
Roar Guru
SM You only wrote two sentences before your laughable BTW (the two ideologies is so that we can explain politics, badly, to 12 year olds)
mushi
Roar Guru
They can have the view, no one is suggesting criminal charges and the state reclaiming all his wages. But it can not be without consequence, as communication by its very nature is designed to incur a consequence. He makes his money being a media figure (making him a habitually unrepentant ideologue as he deliberately profits from the idolisation of his skills and image), by that fact alone sports fans at the very least part of his customer’s supply chain and more than entitled to express their dissatisfaction with him.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
When Scotty from Marketing became PM. If you have a go you get a go now.