Israel’s intolerance has no place in modern rugby
Conditions: A couple of morning showers, otherwise, mostly cloudy.
Rock and Surf: The central area of the KZN coast, has seen some nice pompano and stumpies coming out. Favoured baits have been pink prawns and cracker shrimp. One of the most important things to remember when targeting either of these species, is that you need to place your bait where they are feeding. For more info, visit kingfisher.co.za.
Weekly tip: The bass fishing has not changed much since the last report. The Hazelmere bass are still eager to feed on almost any offering.
TIDES, WINDS, ETC.: Sunrise:6.15am; Sunset: 5.37pm; Temp: 20/23°C; Sea: 21.8°C; UV Risk: 1 (Low); Thunderstorms: 20%; Wind: 9km (SSE); Full Moon: April 30; Tides: Neap Tides (Low); Low: 9.32am, 9.42pm (0.2m); High: 3.30am, 3.45pm (2m). Sea: 1.8m swell. Try something different outdoors this weekend.
Today: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking
Club at Palmiet Nature Reserve (Westville). Margie 073 437 6915 Grade: 2-3. Distance: ±15km. Walk through suburbia into the nature reserve via the old quarry. Magnificent rock faces, beautiful deep pools and lovely bird life. Drinks afterwards at Waxy’s. Hike Leader: Margie 073 437 6915.
April 15: Join the Durban Amblers Club at 2pm, to hike Nkutu Falls, past Kloof picnic site to T-junction. Right into King George, straight into the valley, turn right into the reserve. Hike easy two escarpments to view sites or climb the gorge. Cost: R30 entry fee. Enquiries: David on 072 615 0559.
April 21: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club the Umhlanga Promenade, Hawaan Forest and Beach. Grade: 1, Easy. Distance: ±9km. Hike along the prestigious Umhlanga promenade, through the indigenous Hawaan coastal forest, out onto the beach to lagoon and return to car park. Drinks afterwards enjoying the sea breeze. Meet and park at 1:45pm at Durban View Park parking lot (Marine Drive and Durban View Rd). Enquiries: Ilona 076 912 9829.
April 22: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club to hike the Holla Trails, Umhlali. Grade 2-3, Moderate. Distance: ±15km. Go north for a tranquil walk through the rolling hills inland from Ballito. Cane, coastal forest and grassland. Stay for drinks afterwards. Cost: R30. Enquiries: Jon 082 459 1522. April 22: Join the Durban Amblers Hiking
Club at 2pm, to hike Assegaai Coffee Farm. New Hike in Cato Ridge Area for some easy hiking and awesome tea and cake after.
Meet at the coffee farm. Take Hammersdale turn-off, right over the bridge, 5k’s to farm signposted on left. Enquiries: David on 0726150559.
April 27: Join the Durban Ramblers Club for a public holiday hike at the Iphithi Nature Reserve and surrounds. Grade 1 Easy. Distance: ±8km. Gate opens by 8:30am. Hike a few loops through this reclaimed wetland, step it out in neighbouring suburbs and return to Reserve for BYO braai lunch. Cost: R20. Meet at 9am at Iphithi Nature Reserve, Edward Drive, Gillitts. From M13 exit 24, right over Everton Bridge, first left, right into Old Station Rd, second left into Edward. Enquiries: Ann on 083 666 5630.
April 28: Join the Durban Ramblers Club at 1:45pm to hike Clifton Tower Circuit. Grade 3, Strenuous. Distance: ±9km. Hike through cane fields and uphill to Clifton Tower. Views to city, coast and surrounds. A few steep hills. Well-deserved post hike drinks at Shongweni Club. Meet at Denny Mushroom (Exit 33 from M13, left into Kassier Rd, left onto MR599 (Shongweni Dam sign). Enquries: Werner on 084 206 7836.
April 29: Join the Durban Ramblers Club to hike Monteseel. Grade 4, Moderate. Distance: ±14km. Walk down into the Valley of a 1000 Hills, up to Monteseel and then back again on a circular route. Drinks afterwards at the restaurant. Enquiries: Philip 082 417 0204. May 13: Woodview Athletic Club. Type:
10km, 21km walk run. Start and Finish: Mt Edgecombe Recreational Park, Siphosethu Road (next to Temple). Time: 6am. Enquiries: Prashen Ramjee on 084 611 1051, Sally Govender on 084 505 7797 or Pragasen Naidu on 071 917 8313. April 19: 2018 Durban Mixed Time Trial league #4, DHS Old Boys, Durban North. Type: 8km / 4km. DHS Old Boys. Enquiries: eventtiming.info
April 21: The Blue and You Autism Run, Natal Mounted Rifles, Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. Durban. Type: 10km run, 5km run/ walk. Enquiries: Blue and You on 031 837 0352 or blueandyourun@gmail.com.
April 22: Rising Sun Chatsworth Freedom Marathon, Chatsworth Stadium, Chatsworth Durban. Type: 52km run, 21.1km run, 10km run/walk. Chatsworth AC. Enquiries: Ven Moodley or Rita Govender on 083 789 5557 or 072 546 3440.
April 28: Pongola Sugar Cane, Pongola Sports Ground, Pongola. Type: 42.2km run, 21.1km run, 10km run. Enquiries: Heinrich Koen, Natasha Jansen v Vuuren or Maryke Villet-smit on 083 228 7682, 073 594 7481, 073 635 2695, pongolaac@outlook.com or best2electrical@gmail.com April 21-22: The Bushman’s Trail. Time: 5.30am (April 21); 11am (April 22). Cost: R140 – R215. Enquiries: kzntrailrunning.co.za THERE isn’t a top rugby team on the planet which would turn down the opportunity to have Israel Folau in its ranks. He’s big, fast, powerful and brave. He’s also a deadly finisher with sublime attacking instincts.
Too bad he’s a bigot.
The Waratahs and Australia fullback caused a row with a (now deleted) Instagram post in which he said that God’s plan for gay people was “HELL . . . Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.”
Strangely, he hasn’t been censured by his employers, instead receiving applause for his “strong beliefs” and an instruction to express his views “respectfully”.
That’s a staggering response to what appears like plain hate speech and is sharply at odds with what occurred in England this week.
Denny Solomono of
Sale Sharks was banned for four weeks for an alleged homophobic slur towards a Worcester player.
The words were said to be the same as those which saw French centre Mathieu Bastareaud banned following a European Champions Cup match earlier this year.
If there’s any doubt about the damage inflicted by remarks like Folau’s and Bastareaud’s, consider the view of prominent referee Nigel Owens, who happens to be gay and spoke of the pain at reading such toxic opinions.
“Yes, you are entitled to your opinion but one should understand what that opinion can do to young and vulnerable people’s lives, in particular ones in a bad place dealing with their sexuality . . . it’s not a choice of being gay. I spent years and years trying not to be gay because I didn’t realise I was gay until I was about 19.”
Gareth Thomas, the Welsh Test centurion, was more direct, tweeting a middle finger shot that emphatically stated his feelings towards Folau. He, too, is gay.
Folau tweeted biblical readings to try and justify his message, oblivious to the pain and hurt he caused to many.
Social media went into overdrive with the unambiguous message that his views are nonsense.
His drivel also goes against the grain of rugby’s broad value system; a system that heartily celebrates differences and inclusivity. Rugby even has an international tournament for gay players, the Bingham Cup, named after Mark Bingham, the hero who died on board United Airlines Flight 93 when it crashed during the 9/11 attacks.
(In a bizarre twist, Folau himself was the poster boy for the event in Sydney in 2014, even appearing on the cover of a local gay magazine at the time).
Locally, the Jozi Cats were launched three seasons ago and play in a variety of events. They even toured overseas last year.
Freedom of speech is a noble freedom, but it’s a dangerous road to go down when comments are laced in hate and prejudice. It doesn’t matter a whole lot whether you talk about your faith, but loaded remarks like Folau’s are demonstrably offsides.
The player’s elevated public status means he’ll catch more wind for whatever he says, but it doesn’t alter the offensiveness of his remarks.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall the next time he shares a changeroom with Wallaby loose forward David Pocock, who has long been a strong advocate for LGBTI rights.
He even held off marrying his fiancé until gay marriage was legalised in Australia, so no-one can be in any doubt about his feelings on the subject.it might be easy for some to laugh off Folau’s comments, but what of those conflicted kids Owens talks about?
There must be rugby fans among them, fans who agonise daily over their choices and now vilified by an extremist like Folau who thinks it’s okay to bash out a hateful message on social media.
Of course, Folau can hold whatever views he likes, but propagating such views is another matter, especially as he is held to a higher standard.
That’s the lot of a celebrity player, whether he likes it or not.
The irony of Folau’s remarks is that he is deeply religious and yet his intolerance of people who are unlike him is palpable. With view like his, he’d be better off shutting up.
Decent people don’t care for his hate-filled bile.