Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Israel Folau set to lose relationship with closest ally

Israel Folau.(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

NZ Herald

Israel Folau has lost a lot in the wake of his saga with Rugby Australia after making controversial anti-gay social media posts in April.

And now the Wallabies star looks set to lose his relationship with one of his longest-serving allies.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, Folau has all but turned his back on manager Isaac Moses as the 30-year-old braces for the announcement of his penalty for his Instagram posts last month.

Moses, who represents many high-profile rugby players, has stood by Folau since he was just 14 years old.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that although Moses remains Folau’s agent, the pair had a fall out when Folau refused to speak with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia in the direct aftermath of his April 10 posts – where he said homosexuals, among other “sinners”, would go to hell.

Folau resisted opportunities to settle things with Rugby Australia and refused to remove the post, despite Moses’ advice.

Making matters worse for the relationship, Folau is also understood to have grown closer to Moses’ former business partner Joe Wehbe, who launched court action against Moses over a financial dispute.

Moses was not present at Folau’s code of conduct hearing last week in Sydney, with wife Maria Folau appearing in support.

The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed that Folau had rejected an offer from Rugby Australia to enter settlement talks prior to the hearing, later stating that he was willing to front a low-level breach due to his posts offending some players and fans.

But given Folau’s lack of refusal to take down the post and concession that he may make similar comments in future, it’s likely the Waratahs star’s four-year multi-million dollar contract will be terminated under a high-level breach of the code of conduct.

Folau had already lost the support of the Salteri family and Jaguar Land Rover last year when he made his first round of anti-gay posts, now losing major sponsor Asics, who had originally stood by him in 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier this week, Folau offered an explanation for his posts for the first time, saying it was a message from God and that he resisted contact with Rugby Australia to settle things because he believed it was ‘Satan’s work.’

“There have been many opportunities to potentially make the situation a little bit easier. I could go back and play the game, get everything back to the way it used to be,” he said.

“The way Satan works is he offers you stuff that could look good to the eye and makes you feel comfortable, and if you follow that path all the worries and troubles will go away. [But] it is always the will of God that comes first.”

The three-person panel is expected to reach a decision by tomorrow regarding the penalty.

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission

In other news:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 18 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode
Search