Opinion | Has Rugby Australia contradicted itself in the Israel Folau ruling? A look into its now infamous ‘Inclusion Policy’
- Australian rugby player Israel Folau condemned homosexuality on social media, which led to Rugby Australia terminating his contract
- Folau is waiting on a final word about the issue, but looking at Rugby Australia’s ‘Inclusion Policy’, how can they rule against him?
We all know the story by now, Folau condemning gays to hell on Instagram, prompting Rugby Australia to try to terminate his contract. But beneath the surface is one of the oddest side notes of this whole quagmire, that Rugby Australia appears to be contradicting one of its own policies in sacking Folau.
Rugby Australia has a number of codes of conduct, one being an 11-page document called an “Inclusion Policy” which looks to protect gay and lesbian people who choose to play rugby. Down on page three is the kicker under bullet point 1.4:
“Rugby AU recognises that both intentional and unintentional homophobic behaviour exist within society in Australia, and that this can have adverse and potentially significant consequences for some individuals and our game.”
Thus, continues the policy, “rugby has and must continue to be a sport where players, officials, volunteers, supporters and administrators have the right and freedom to participate regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or religion and without fear of exclusion. There is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words both on and off the field must reflect this”.
The key word in this is “religion”. Take it out and everything is fine, but by including that word, Rugby Australia is stating Folau has the right to play, and the freedom to practise his religion. Posting homophobic comments on social media may be crude, but ask anyone on the planet, this is what religious people do, they spread the word of God, however filthy and unsound it may appear.