Folau and RA bosses reach settlement

Rugby Australia (RA) has avoided a costly and potentially embarrassing legal trial after reaching a settlement agreement with sacked Wallaby Israel Folau.

After 14 hours of negotiations RA apologised to Folau and his family, saying ‘‘while it was not Rugby Australia’s intention, Rugby Australia acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus’’.

‘‘Similarly, Mr Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused,’’ the two parties said in a joint statement issued yesterday.

Former Wallaby Israel Folau.

Folau claimed he was unlawfully sacked because of his religion in May this year.

Folau breached the professional players’ code of conduct with two social media posts condemning homosexuals to Hell and labelling as ‘‘evil’’ the legal recognition of transgender and intersex Australians.

‘‘The social media post reflected Mr Folau’s genuinely held religious beliefs, and Mr Folau did not intend to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the social media post,’’ the joint statement said. ‘‘Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity.

‘‘Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby do not in any way agree with the content of the social media post. Inclusiveness is one of rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community.’’

The terms of their settlement are confidential.

On the eve of mediation proceedings Folau upped his compensation claim to A$14 million in lost income and damages, and reiterated his desire for an apology and reinstatement.

The news brings to an end an

18-month headache for RA and the NSW Waratahs – jointrespondents in the claim as his second employer – both of whom were under significant pressure from sponsors and commercial partners to take action against him.

Since his move to rugby in

2013, Folau played 74 tests for the

Wallabies and helped win a Super Rugby title with the Waratahs but his increasingly religious posts crossed the line with a comment in April, 2018, saying homosexuals were destined for Hell.

RA did not discipline Folau after that comment and came under heavy fire for not doing so. In October it re-signed him on a four-year deal worth A$1.4m per season, with no extra restrictions on his social media use.

Six months later he posted the Instagram and Twitter messages that led to RA issuing him a breach notice under the professional players’ code of conduct. RA convened a three-person tribunal that found he had committed a high level breach and should be sacked.