February 4, 2021
Outcry Scuttles Anti-Gay Rugby Star Israel Folau's New Gig
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Israel Folau had been in talks to return to the fold of Australia's National Rugby League until a massive outcry derailed those plans, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
St George Illawarra Dragons coach Anthony Griffin told the newspaper he had spoken with Folau after the decision not to move forward with a proposed deal to bring him back into the NRL as a player with the Dragons. Saying Folau had been "philosophical" about the deal's unraveling, Griffin struck a philosophical tone himself, saying "it would have been great to work with him," but with that prospect having been shot down, "I understand why it won't happen, so we just move on."
Added Griffin, "I understand the backlash and also, I suppose, the NRL wanting to go deep into an examination of why he should play. They're entitled to do that, given what's happened in the past."
Folau, 31, torched his career, losing brand ambassadorships and a multi-million dollar contract with the New South Wales Waratahs when he persisted in posting inflammatory anti-LGBTQ messages on social media in defiance of team and Rugby Australia policies. After a headline-grabbing saga of repeated infractions, Folau was found to be in "high breach" of his contract and fired in 2019.
Folau sued Rugby Australia and appealed to religious conservatives, saying that he was being "persecuted" for the anti-gay tenets of his Christian faith. Rugby Australia maintained that Folau - like any other player under contract - was expected to abide by the rules set down for conduct and social media use.
Months after his firing, Folau settled with Rugby Australia, issued an apology, and moved on - though he left a trail of ongoing anti-LGTBQ commentary, including a sermon in which he declared that tragic wildfires in Australia were sent by God as punishment for the country's recognition of marriage equality.
Exiled to France for a year, where he played with the Catalans Dragons, the athlete had been forging a deal with the Australian team that would have taken him back home. But the pushback from fans and the public was too fierce.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
