Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has offered to apologise publicly and agreed to allow Rugby Australia to review his future social media posts before posting, according to new court documents.
Folau is embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with Rugby Australia after his multi-million-dollar contract was terminated following his controversial social media post in April stating homosexuals are destined for hell unless they repent their sins.
In court documents made public on Thursday, Folau’s lawyers said he offered a series of concessions to Rugby Australia for what they called a ‘low-level’ breach of the governing body’s code of conduct.
These included a public apology, paying a fine to Rugby Australia, serving a four-week suspension, and ‘submitting to mentoring sessions about how he could practise his faith publicly and how he could best articulate his religious views and beliefs on social media’.
Lawyers for the 30-year-old lodged further documents with the Federal Circuit Court as proof that at least 15 teammates and members of coaching staff had ‘provided him with messages of support’ or urged him to return to the game; and that RA chief Raelene Castle had told him last year that the organisation ‘would never ask or expect him to act in a manner or way that is contrary to his beliefs’.
Photo: Janie Barrett/Sydney Morning Herald
