Save views for backyard barbies
Queensland great Tim Horan is the latest to add his voice to criticism of Israel Folau, who continues to divide opinion and divert attention from the Waratahs’ Super Rugby campaign with controversial social media posts. Horan told
that Folau was better off talking religion over a backyard sausage sizzle than social media and urged the dual international to promote the Waratahs instead.
‘‘There’s a code of conduct for social media. You can have your say, you can have your thoughts and beliefs but I think when you’re a very high profile person, you’ve got to try and keep those to yourself as much as you can,’’ he said.
‘‘Maybe do it over a barbeque and cooking a few sausages one Sunday afternoon. I would love to see Izzy tweet about the game coming up for the Waratahs on Saturday night and say come on everyone, get out there and bring your kids out and promote rugby in that sense.’’
Horan followed fellow former Wallabies George Gregan and Clyde Rathbone into the fray on Thursday, while Reds coach and confirmed suitor Brad Thorn backed Folau as an ‘‘outstanding human’’.
In the first clear signal Queensland are making a play for the dual international’s services next season, Thorn told Brisbane’s that any coach would want Folau on their roster.
‘‘I don’t imagine there’s a coach who wouldn’t be interested in Izzy,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s an outstanding human, a three-time John Eales Medallist, a special player for any team.’’
Rathbone, a 26-test back who played for the Brumbies, labelled Folau ‘‘a religious lunatic’’.
‘‘It has become painfully clear that Australia’s best rugby player is a religious lunatic bent on selfimmolation,’’ he said. ‘‘As the ARU thumb through their ‘Inclusion’ Policy’ they would do well to heed [human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali]’s insight that ‘tolerance of intolerance is cowardice’.’’
Rathbone posted the comments in response to Folau’s latest contribution to social media, an 11-minute sermon from the late American evangelist David Wilkerson. The sermon has strong anti-gay overtones.
Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle told Fox Sports’
programme on Wednesday that Folau was ‘‘walking the line’’ between freedom of speech and being respectful.
‘‘On one hand you’re dealing with a human rights issue and on the other hand you’re dealing with freedom of speech and someone’s right to express their views, whether it be religious or other- wise,’’ Castle said.
‘‘I think the test continues to be whether that is done in a respectful way. That’s the measure we’ll continue to apply.’’
Castle accepted it was a risk to not sanction Folau but said it was important to not ostracise people who had the same view as Folau.
‘‘There’s the gay community, which we’re very respectful of and
Tim Horan
want to make sure we have an inclusive environment but, at the same time, we’ve got a large group of people that may share Israel’s views,’’ Castle said. ‘‘We need to think about not being seen to exclude those people.’’
Former Wallabies captain Gregan said on the same programme that he did not think Folau needed to express such views online.
‘‘As soon as you bring it on the social media platform, it becomes a huge, huge point of discussion about the game, not necessarily for the right reasons and not representative of the people in the game of rugby,’’ Gregan said.
‘‘That’s my concern with this. Let’s talk football. These beliefs that you talk about, keep them to yourself. I don’t see there’s a need to be putting it on a huge social platform because it takes away from what he is; a great rugby player.’’
The Waratahs, meanwhile, continue to hope that Folau’s head is not turned by the Reds, led by another dual international in Thorn, who also shares Folau’s deep religious convictions.
‘‘We know Israel is in a final contract period. I’m sure he’s had discussions with a number of people. We’re just really keen to keep him here,’’ Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said.
‘‘You’ve seen what he did last week. To me, he underlined the fact he is one of the best fullbacks in the competition.’’
Gibson also addressed speculation Folau is disgruntled by being asked to moonlight on the wing at times for the Waratahs.
‘‘We’ve had a lot of honest conversations with Israel around playing fullback or wing and as far as we’re concerned he’ll play where the team best needs him,’’ he said.
The 29-year-old has always maintained he will play anywhere a team – be it the Waratahs or Wallabies – needs him to play but a tweet at the weekend from Folau’s wife, netballer Maria Folau, pointed to more going on behind the scenes.