Australia’s full-back Israel Folau has been summoned to a meeting with leading Australian rugby officials to explain his recent message on social media that homosexuals would be condemned to “hell” unless they “repent” for their sins.
Raelene Castle, the chief executive of Rugby Australia, and Andrew Hore, the chief executive of New South Wales Rugby, where Folau is based, have ordered the 29-year old to explain his post to them in person.
Folau publicly opposed Australia’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage last year and this week uploaded a graphic entitled “God’s plan”. When one user asked what that was for gay people, Folau responded: “HELL – unless they repent their sins and turn to God.”
Rugby Australia quickly disassociated itself from the views of Folau, who made his Test debut against the 2013 Lions after a career in rugby league and Australian rules. “Israel’s comment reflects his personal religious beliefs but it does not reflect the view of Rugby Australia or NSW Rugby,” said Castle. “We are aligned in our view that rugby is a game for all, regardless of sexuality, race, religion or gender, which is clearly articulated in Rugby’s inclusion policy. We understand that Israel’s comment has upset a number of people and we will discuss the matter with him as soon as possible.”
Denny Solomona will not play again this season unless Sale reach the Premiership play-offs after the England wing received a four-week ban for verbally abusing the Worcester fly-half Jamie Shillcock.
Solomona appeared before a RFU disciplinary hearing on Thursday night when he contested a charge of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union or the game. The three‑member panel found him guilty but decided the offence was at the low end of the scale of seriousness and his ban for Sale’s final four league games means he will be available for England’s summer tour to South Africa.
The RFU statement announcing the panel’s verdict did not reveal what Solomona was accused of saying. Shillcock was heard during the match complaining to the referee Andrew Jackson that the wing had twice made homophobic remarks to him. It was subsequently reported the word faggot had been used.
“We found that the player [Solomona] used language that was verbally abusive on more than one occasion in quick succession,” said the panel’s chair, Samantha Hillas. “The comments were offensive and have no place on the rugby field. However, the panel accepted they were said in the heat of the moment rather than premeditated.
“For these reasons, we decided that it was a low-end entry point which carries a six-week suspension as a starting point. The player did not accept the charge but all the other mitigating features were present. The panel therefore reduced the sanction to four weeks.”
Solomona is free to play again on 8 May, three days after Sale’s final match in the regular season at home to Leicester. The Sharks are seventh in the Premiership, six points off a place in the play-offs.
World Rugby has set up an independent disputes committee to look at matters arising from the 2019 World Cup qualification process. The trigger was Spain’s defeat to Belgium in the final qualifying round that saw Romania qualify for the tournament in Japan and leave the Spaniards needing to beat Portugal to earn a play-off with Samoa.
The match was refereed by a Romanian, Vlad Iordachescu, despite protests in advance from the Spanish Rugby Union. The executive of World Rugby and the Rugby World Cup board both felt the match should be replayed, not because of any bias from the Romanian officials but because the integrity of the game had been compromised by appointments that were not neutral.
Since the match, there have been claims that more than one country fielded an ineligible player during the qualifying rounds. World Rugby’s independent judicial panel chairman, Christopher Quinlan QC, has been asked to form and convene the disputes committee and report within a month. “World Rugby was deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding the Belgium versus Spain Rugby Europe Championship match, a match that was decisive in the context of Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification,” said the governing body. “Specifically, concerns related to the process and perception of Rugby Europe’s appointment of a match official team that was not neutral in the context of qualification and failing to act on Spain’s concerns in respect of the appointment.
“Having considered all available information, the World Rugby executive committee and Rugby World Cup board felt that a replay would be in the best interests of the game. Since expressing that view, new information relating to player eligibility in the Rugby Europe Championship has been presented to World Rugby by the participating unions. Given this information concerns potential breaches of World Rugby regulations, and given the complexity and interconnectivity of the issues, a full and independent review is warranted.”