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Reuters

The Wallabies would not be able to pick Israel Folau again due to the fullback’s “disrespectful” social media posts, coach Michael Cheika said on Monday.
Rugby Australia has said it would terminate the contract of Folau, the country’s best-known and best-paid player, if he could not offer a good reason for a social media post that said gay people would go to “hell” if they did not “repent”.
The 30-year-old, a fundamentalist Christian, posted similar comments last year but escaped sanction and signed a new deal with RA through 2022 in February.
Asked if Folau’s post had made it hard to pick him for the Wallabies again, Cheika replied: “You wouldn’t be able to.”

“We had a discussion after the last time and made it pretty clear about his right to believe and our support in that, if that’s what he wants, to be part of the team,” Cheika added.
“But getting it out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team is about.
When you play in the gold jersey we represent everyone in Australia, everyone. Everyone that is out there supporting us, we don’t pick and choose
Michael Cheika
“When you play in the gold jersey we represent everyone in Australia, everyone. Everyone that is out there supporting us, we don’t pick and choose.”
Folau has been all but ever-present in the Wallabies number 15 shirt since switching to rugby union from Australian Rules in 2013, and his absence would be a massive blow to Cheika at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Israel Folau posts homophobic social media rant: diverse views are fine, but this expression is a hate crime
Folau said on Sunday he would stand by his comments, even if that meant giving up rugby.
“In saying that, obviously I love playing footy and if it goes down that path I’ll definitely miss it,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald after attending a service at his local church.


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World Rugby

Impossible to pick Israel Folau due to comments, says Wallabies coach Michael Cheika

Australia rugby coach Michael Cheika says he can’t pick Israel Folau after his social media outburst. Photo: AP

epa07500176 (FILE) - Israel Folau of Australia celebrates during the 2018 Rugby Union Championship game between the Pumas of Argentina and the Wallabies of Australia at the Ernesto Martearena Stadium in Salta, Argentina, 06 October 2018. Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union say on 11 April 2019 that 'as a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.' 'In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.' EPA-EFE/JAN TOUZEAU

Israel Folau posts homophobic social media rant: diverse views are fine, but this expression is a hate crime

Australia’s Israel Folau posted a homophobic rant on social media. Photo: Reuters

epa07075415 Israel Folau of Australia celebrates during the 2018 Rugby Championship game between the Pumas of Argentina and the Wallabies of Australia at the Ernesto Martearena Stadium in Salta, Argentina, 06 October 2018. EPA-EFE/JAN TOUZEAU

Rugby Australia terminates Israel Folau’s contract following homophobic rant; says fullback is uncontactable

Israel Folau is tackled by Waisake Naholo. He has had his contract terminated by Rugby Australia. Photo: EPA

Israel Folau unrepentant after Instagram outburst; says he’s content to walk away from rugby after ban

Israel Folau could be facing the end of his storied rugby career. Photo: AP

Sport

Rugby


Folau stands by his previous comments
Rugby Australia has banned its biggest star



Impossible to pick Israel Folau due to comments, says Wallabies coach Michael Cheika

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Folau stands by his previous comments Rugby Australia has banned its biggest star

Folau stands by his previous comments

Rugby Australia has banned its biggest star