Folau requests code of conduct hearing

Israel Folau has requested a code of conduct hearing after he was issued with a breach notice by Rugby Australia (RA) over his homophobic social media posts.

The union’s integrity unit ruled Folau had committed a “high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct”, warranting the termination of his employment contract, and he was given 48 hours to accept the breach of contract or refer it to a hearing.

The 30-year-old devout Christian said on his Instagram account last week that “hell awaits” for “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators”. RA said Folau’s request for a code of conduct hearing was “not an unexpected outcome”.

The Wallabies full-back was warned a year ago for making homophobic comments on social media, but escaped disciplinary action.

Having published similarly divisive views once again, however, RA announced its intention to sack one of the sport’s most gifted players in a move that would rule him out of the World Cup.

Folau has stood by his view, saying he would rather accept the end of his career than issue a retraction.