Rugby

Israel Folau: Rugby Australia calls further anti-gay posts 'unacceptable'

April 11, 2019 12:00 pm

Rugby Australia has described an Israel Folau social media post, in which the full-back says “hell awaits” gay people, as “unacceptable”.

The 30-year-old escaped punishment for similar comments last year, with the governing body saying it accepted – but did not support – his “position”.

Yesterday he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”, and made similar remarks on Twitter.

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He sent a tweet criticizing the Tasmanian parliament, which has become the first Australian state to make it legally optional to list gender on birth certificates.

He was widely criticised for his anti-gay posts in April 2018 and was also involved in a disagreement with the national team in 2017 after saying that he was opposed to same-sex marriage.

Folau signed a four-year deal with Super Rugby side Waratahs in March.