One hell of a controversy
ISRAEL FOLAU v BRAD WEBER
Brad Weber’s people have his back, with New Zealand’s Rugby Players Association publicly supporting the Chiefs and one-test All Black halfback’s right to weigh in on the Israel Folau controversy.
NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol has told Stuff that his organisation is firmly behind Weber’s stance on a subject he feels strongly about, and around which he has clearly thought through his response. But they do believe there is a wider lesson in the whole firestorm for all rugby players around appropriate and responsible use of players’ social media platforms.
Wallabies and Waratahs star Folau, who is married to Silver Ferns netballer Maria Folau, has caused an international uproar over his comment on Instagram last month that God’s plan for gay people was ‘‘Hell, unless they repent of their sins and turn to God’’.
Until now New Zealand’s leading rugby players have been unwilling to comment publicly on the issues raised by Folau’s controversial stance.
Weber has emphatically broken that silence on Twitter, saying he was ‘‘kinda sick’’ of players staying quiet on this.
‘‘I can’t stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he’s saying,’’ Weber posted.
‘‘My cousin and her partner, and my Aunty and her partner are some of the most kind, caring & loving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
‘‘To think that I play against someone that says they’ll go to Hell for being gay disgusts me.’’
Nichol had ‘‘no problem’’ with Weber putting out ‘‘a positive message around inclusion and homophobia. He’s saying I want people to know I’ve got no time for it.
‘‘Obviously it’s personal and he felt strongly about it, but he hasn’t come out in a negative sense. His message is ‘I don’t like that negative stuff from Israel, I don’t respect it, and I’m going to send a positive message in this space’. Good on him for doing it.’’
Nichol said there was general recognition in sport of the benefits to be gained by engaging on social media, and that it was encouraged among the professional communities. ‘‘It shouldn’t be looked at as the devil’s tool, or anything, and used correctly it’s a fantastic thing and can be very positive.
‘‘But you do need to think about it, understand you’re accountable for what you say, and if you’re going to use it, do so in a responsible and positive manner,’’ he added.
‘‘With Israel’s comment, I just don’t know it was well thought through. You can’t see too much positive that’s come from it.
‘‘He’s expressed something that’s going to offend a lot of people, and is potentially going to have serious and negative implications for people who may take this to heart. It’s the kind of stuff that puts people in a very dark place and can have a very bad outcome.
‘‘What Brad has recognised is this is just wrong, this is not what the game is about, this is not what the platform should be about . . . and what Brad is saying, and I’d back this, is that he doesn’t think it is a responsible thing to put out.’’
Nichol did not expect many, if any, New Zealand players to follow Weber’s lead and wade into the controversy.
‘‘They want to use their social media platform for positive messages and positive influence, and they see what Israel has put out there as very negative and a one-dimensional view.’’
New Zealand’s professional players were all comprehensively advised around social media use and, as well as protocols in place, were told to think strongly about saying anything that might make the national TV news, or might offend, say, their grandmother.
Nichol said any Kiwi player who posted something along the lines of what Folau had could expect an appointment with their employer to discuss breaching contractual terms around acting in a manner not in the best interests of rugby.
New Zealand Rugby’s only comment, via social media platforms, was that it is ‘‘committed to diversity and inclusion, and welcomes people from all walks of life. We respect that people have different views and beliefs, however expect that any opinions and views are expressed in a respectful way’’.
‘‘Good on him for doing it.’’
Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol on Brad Weber speaking out