Wallabies star Samu Kerevi says players who agreed with Israel Folau’s religious views were banned from speaking up in his defence by Rugby Australia.
The ABC will air a two-part documentary later this month on the saga that rocked Australian rugby and led to the star fullback losing his RA contract and being left out of the 2019 World Cup.
Folau has not been interviewed for the documentary, although it’s understood extracts from his interview with The Roar’s sister publication Athletes Voice will be read out to portray his point of view.
In a press release from the ABC on Wednesday, Kerevi was quoted as saying players were silenced.
“We got told from our media teams not to say anything about supporting ‘Izzy’ or saying anything at all,” Kerevi said.
“After those coming days, everyone that didn’t support him was all over the news. They were allowed to be interviewed, they were allowed to say they don’t support the message.
“That’s what annoyed us and made us angry. It’s like ‘Hey, you’re allowing one side of the story to be spoken about and to be supported, but not the other’. How come they’re allowed to speak, and we’re not?”
Kerevi’s view contradicts a statement from then Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle who said players were given the opportunity to express their views about Folau’s social media post.
Folau had written that hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators.
“For most of us boys, it started turning to anger because there were so many things going on in rugby. People were going to court or whatever, and they’re not getting sacked,” Kerevi said.
“If someone does domestic violence, then he is OK to play. But someone that is posting someone that is in the Bible, that’s not play on. That balance, I just didn’t understand at the time and I didn’t want to accept. I was ready to go to battle for my faith and stand up for my beliefs.
“Me liking a post, it just turned from zero to 100 real quick. Being called a ‘bigot’ and stuff, and people saying ‘I’ll see you in hell’.
“It was really hard to take as a Polynesian group. As a Christian and a Polynesian, I understood both sides. I have family who are gay, and they’re Christians. I understand both sides.”
Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said it was a tough time for the sort in Australia as the Wallabies underperformed at the World Cup in Japan.
“That was a really difficult time for the team. Really difficult,” Michael Cheika said. “I was confronted in the street aggressively, many times by people. I imagine that was happening to players as well.”
Kerevi tells the documentary he has gay family members and understands both sides. But he flagged issues well before the Folau social media incident, when RA supported gay marriage in the 2017 plebiscite.
Kerevi, a devout Christian, lamented the lack of consultation with Pasifika players for whom this was a big deal.
“No one came up to us and asked us if we support it. You know, no one asked us our opinion on it. They just said, you know, Rugby Australia supports gay marriage.”
USrugger
Roar Rookie
It's called a 'settlement'. Frequently done to 'settle' the affair and move on. If Folau were not in breach, he'd have been in a Wallaby jersey. We all know how that's gone... I've been involved in a settlement ...or 3...with no admission or finding. Not much practical experience, I see...
HR
Roar Rookie
Yep - anyone who thinks that all citizens of any country have some kind of unfettered right to free speech haven't been paying attention. The US is the closest of the anglophone countries, and even they have limitations to what is allowed. And we in Australia have an implied freedom of communication about government and political matters, but no explicit right to freedom of speech, which some people don't seem to understand.
Dally M
Roar Rookie
Yep, RA were able to get rid of him. How much did he actually get? Was it more than his contract was worth? Unlikely? Was it worth it for RA to be done with him and the damage he caused the game, sponsors, fans etc? Yep, 100%
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
They had had to pay Folau out a signicant settlement, so clearly Folau was not the one in breach. I suggest you redo your contract law 101
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Tony, it was BS, as even I as an atheist , don't like this sort of bible banging BS thrown up in my face, as I too, do react to it.
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Winston: my judgement on Contract is unimpaired. I do not pretend to understand 'wokeness'. Clearly, it's within your purview. Where Contract is concerned, I'm on rock-solid ground.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
I'd imagine RA's insurer had the final say.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah that condescension is a terrible thing. Glad you're so against it Leroy.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
I'd be happy if there were no Australian rugby or cricket tours to the USA. Might send a message
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
subject to some limitations Lesse now speech can be domestic violence, it can be defamation (civil or criminal), it can be threats, it can be use of a carriage service to menace harass or cause offence, it can be conspiracy, it can be an attempt to pervert justice or intimidate a witness, it can be extortion or blackmail, it can be public nuisance, it can be corrupt conduct, it could be bribery. And probably a lot more. The idea that us Aussies have some kind of unfettered right to free speech is kinda a cute myth.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
sport should be separate from state, religion, organisations and companies. should ?
WINSTON
Roar Rookie
You are allowing your atheism to cloud your judgement on wokeness. To woke or not to woke has little to do with religion
jeznez
Roar Guru
Sure, plenty of places where the right is going stronger. Others where it’s being rejected. I’m no expert but really am not sure it’s got anything to do with limits on free speech. Thought it was more to do with cost of living issues. Centuries old traditional food making practices being outlawed by EU standards. A feel that traditional culture is being lost due to excessive immigration. Things like that. I’m definitely not expert am sure there is a lot more to it.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
The right is right in the face of the EU Jez, right wing government in Italy, Marie Le Pen's party giving Macron a real challenge and the loony right in the USA. They're not going away and it's largely because people are sick of being dictated to by well meaning, but quite patronistic governments. Poland is another of the top of my head where the right is growing stronger day by day.
jeznez
Roar Guru
G'day again Malotru, I didn't address it as I'm not sure your statement is accurate. After tragedies caused by extremists, we seem to regularly find that they've been radicalised within places where the limits on freedom of speech have been lifted such as 4chan, 8chan etc.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Mal - just take those three matters the Dane's don't allow: Child pornography, libel and hate speech/racism - which of those do you think should be allowed?
ProudToBeBlack
Guest
Hear Hear Graymatter. It sickens me that some would look to exploit the Folau situation to demonise Polynesians in general, especially on theRoar.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Absolutely on the money Peter. I put it to Jez that the reason for the swing to the right across Europe, the USA and many other parts of the world is that people are sick to death of being fed what some believe to be the politically correct line. Sadly he didn't address that.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
One man's meat is another man's poison Jez. Because of the predominance of this attitude in the developed world speech will never, under those circumstances, be 'free'. We are consistently fed that mantra of yes we live in free societies, but the reality is considerably different.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Strange that not one single society has free speech without limits then. I’m a big believer in free speech, incredibly important but nowhere is it truly free and that isn’t a bad thing. We just want it to be as free as possible without crossing lines. Those three major restrictions from the Danes all look pretty important to me.