English Super League club Hull KR have suggested legal action could be taken if a title sponsor withdraws over Catalans’ controversial signing of Israel Folau.
The owner and chairman of Super League side Hull Kingston Rovers has warned French club Catalans Dragons they could face legal action as a result of signing Israel Folau, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
The broadcaster said it had obtained an email in which Neil Hudgell put the Dragons “on notice” should Hull suffer financial loss due to the signing of the former Australia rugby union international.
Folau reached a settlement with Rugby Australia in December after his contract was torn up in May for posting a meme on social media that said hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups.
“I reserve my position to take proceedings v Catalans Dragons,” the BBC quoted Hudgell as saying.
In the email, he suggested action could be taken if a title sponsor withdrew, external investment was not secured or “quantifiable reputational damage is caused to the brand of Super League and its members”.
The BBC quoted one senior club source as saying “nearly all” the Super League clubs backed Hudgell’s position.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from Hull.
Dragons chairman Bernard Guasch has said they wanted to give Folau a “new opportunity” but the club did not share the player’s religious beliefs.
Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone has said Folau’s comments go against the sport’s core values.
“I have sought the opinion of informed voices connected to our game, and the majority share my disappointment that one of our clubs has chosen to sign him,” he said in a recent statement.
“There is a strong feeling that the decision to sign him lets down many people connected to our sport.”
Speaking to Sky Sports on Tuesday, and avoiding any reference to the controversy, Folau said he was “super-excited” to be back in the game he grew up playing and looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s been 10 years since I last played rugby league and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a great organisation, great team,” he said.
“I miss that team camaraderie, the team environment and being around your team mates and being able to train with your team.”
Dragons head coach Steve McNamara told Sky TV that the club knew Folau’s signing would be controversial but they had needed to fill a position.
“We looked in France and England and overseas, in the southern hemisphere both in rugby league and rugby union. We went down the route of investigating a fair few players and Israel’s name was on the list.
“And having spent a lot of time speaking to him and understanding him a lot more, and getting the reassurances that we did, we made a decision as a club that we would support the signing of Israel and give him another opportunity in our game.”
Israel Folau has begun training with his new teammates in the south of France and could make his Super League debut as soon as Sunday at Wakefield.
Jackson
Guest
A leaperd never changes it's strips .
Jacko
Guest
Are they paying Izzy for all the publicity and for the extra bums on seats? Their sponsors will have never had so much publicity
Jacko
Guest
It all just seems pathetic and extremely childish to me Mushi....It seems having an opinion is far worse than being a criminal repeat offender.....And they say the Criminal is ok because they apoligise.....after every offence.....
catcat
Roar Rookie
He took alot money off Rugby Australia...caveat emptor Super League
Henrik
Guest
I think its more bout Sponsors not wanting to associate with the club on the specific day they will play the Catalans and some fans who will not go on that particular day becuase they are offended by Folau. Apart from that i think its just rhetoric
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah right, I think there was an element of it but more sort of minor decisions, pranks with mates etc, not whether to rape the neighbour…
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I find this whole debate fascinating, although to be fair it has been done to death on here about the IF issue. I agree, you can't be inclusive because it means accepting everyone. I just find it ironic that they release statements highlighting their inclusiveness by excluding someone based solely on his beliefs. They really should word their statements better. Maybe it's time we all dropped the "inclusive" tag because it is really anything but. There is not such thing as a completely inclusive society anywhere on the planet.
Rob
Guest
Pathetic attempt to stop an opponent from succeeding IMO. Filou is obviously a good on field signing for the Dragons. If rival clubs lose sponsors it’s their issue. The vilification of Filou has been well and truely over the top. If they put writen clauses in his contract about fining and deregersting him for inappropriate comments he knows that consequences. Fair dinkum the President of the USA spews more hate and self righteousness in 1 tweet than anything Filou has done IMO.
mushi
Roar Guru
I think the issue with inclusion is a the concept is about accepting things a person has no choice over (gender, sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic standing) and respecting things that are core to them (culture, religion etc) without necessarily agreeing with them. But if you think of inclusion in a semantic sense then you can’t ever get the conceptual inclusion as you have to include behaviours which are explicitly divisive and disrespectful and prevent inclusiveness. You also, in the modern world, can’t have perfect inclusion because our laws prevent it.
mushi
Roar Guru
Never said other players don't, just said that he will likely benefit financially from more people watching which you asked if it was the case. They also haven't hypocritically decried their profession whilst fighting to remain in it.
mushi
Roar Guru
I thought it was born from an experiment that he back tracked form (obviously not to the extent of the book)
Jacko
Guest
And other players dont? The Superleague has some fairly nasty players including violent and PED takers yet a bloke with an opinion is what they want to get upset about? Its pathetic
The Barry
Roar Guru
I thought that was part marketing hype, part myth...
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I heard on the radio this morning that the Super League has taken measures to ensure they have greater say on who plays in the future. They said that the board voted unanimously to ensure they remained an inclusive organisation and promoted themselves as such. So in the interest of inclusion we will make sure we exclude anyone who doesn't share our views of inclusion.
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
Once I$$y pays up they will!
mushi
Roar Guru
Would have been less freaky if it had been fiction...
The Barry
Roar Guru
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dice_Man Great book...
Insider
Roar Rookie
Hull, get over it
mushi
Roar Guru
In theory Folau would get paid more based on increased sponsorship given he profits from Idolatry
mushi
Roar Guru
Though I do wonder under your scenario, how do I chose which job is my perfect one if I'm unable to discriminate between the opportunities? do we need to roll a dice for every decision now?