Spotlight on Folau as rugby shows support for Thomas
England players will wear Rainbow Laces this weekend in support of the LGBT community as part of Stonewall’s campaign. Wales will too, as will those in the France team. Those not selected for international teams have also been invited to wear them in this weekend’s round of Premiership and Pro14 fixtures. Even some Australians will be wearing them at Twickenham.
Which puts the spotlight firmly on Israel Folau. The 29-year-old may be one of the most talented players in the world, but his views on homosexuality since they were made public last year makes this weekend all the more important.
Folau stated on social media that he would not support gay marriage in the lead up to the Marriage Law Postal Survey that subsequently saw same-sex marriage legalised in Australia, before responding to an Instagram post that asked what God’s plan is for homosexuals with: “Hell.. Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God”.
Folau denied that he was homophobic or bigoted and said that his views were a result of his Christian faith. But he was widely condemned for his comments, and a column written in an effort to explain his views did not help matters, though the Australian Rugby Union elected not to sanction him as they “accepted” his position on the matter.
But fate has it that Folau will run out at Twickenham this weekend when the treatment of the LGBT community is under the microscope. The horrific assault of former Wales and British Lions captain Gareth Thomas last weekend has seen an outpouring of support from the rugby community, with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) choosing to wear Rainbow Laces this Saturday against Fiji directly because of the homophobic assault in Cardiff city centre in the hours after Wales’ victory over Tonga.
It casts real scrutiny on Folau’s stance on the matter, particularly when his own teammates will be wearing the laces. “Some of the players have done that before,” said head coach Michael Cheika this week. “I think Matt Toomua has, but that will be an individual choice.”
It is also something that they have openly disagreed with before, most notably when former captain David Pocock explained how he has experienced similar disputes with family members. "I just don't see who wins if we aren't able to relate to each other as humans and keep talking about things rather than having these really nasty polarising debates to decide who is and isn't part of our tribe based on their beliefs,” the marriage equality supporter said in June.
"We all lose something when we aren't able to engage with people just because we disagree on something."
To show just how wide-spanning the Rainbow Laces campaign is, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and the United States have all allowed their players to wear the laces this weekend, with Thomas admitting that he was “honoured” by the display of support for the LGBT community.
“We are incredibly humbled and encouraged by the support and solidarity shown towards Gareth and the LGBT+ community this week, with World Rugby and every national union supporting our initiative,” said International Gay Rugby chairman Ben Owen.
“Rugby truly is a sport for all where everyone is welcome, regardless of age, race, ability, or gender identity and sexual orientation.”
Folau’s comments were also criticised by fellow professionals, most notably All Blacks pair TJ Perenara and Brad Weber, the latter of which claimed “I can’t stand that I have to play the game I love with people, like Folau, who say what he’s saying."
With such a focus on the Folau’s precarious position on gay rights, it feels like a fresh row could erupt at any moment – particularly inside the cauldron that is Twickenham on a Saturday afternoon. If 82,000 fans decide to boo and jeer Folau upon his entry to the field of play, each time he gets the ball or when his name is read out by the stadium announcer, it will be impossible to ignore. Australia can ill-afford another row over the matter following their terrible build-up to the match. A run of 10 defeats in their last 14 Tests and the loss of the influential back-row Pocock to injury was bad enough, but Friday’s revelation that both Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper were not considered for selection due to breaching team protocol shows all the signs of a team out of control and on the brink of crisis. That other senior members of the squad felt the need to tell Cheika that the pair had brought three women back to the team hotel after the defeat against Wales – including Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law – shows everything you need to know about this current side.
It is one that cannot afford another embarrassing incident. Unfortunately for Folau, he’s the one left in the spotlight.