Israel Folau's conduct hearing will drag on for a second day - as Rugby Australia faces going BROKE if they are forced to pay out his $4million contract
- Israel Folau's code of conduct hearing is set to continue for a second day
- Folau, 30, spent eight hours fighting to save his career at Rugby Australia HQ
- RA will face insolvency if they have to pay out the fullback's lucrative contract
- The Wallabies star is fighting to save his career and four-year $4million contract
- Folau reportedly seeking for his contract to be paid in full should it be cancelled
- The legal battle comes after he shared a post saying homosexuals will go to hell
Israel Folau's code of conduct hearing is set to continue for a second day, after no decision was reached on whether his multi-million dollar contract should be ripped up.
Folau, 30, arrived at Rugby Australia (RA) headquarters in Sydney on Saturday, where he spent eight hours fighting to save his career after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they repent.
RA will face insolvency if they have to pay out the Wallabies star's lucrative contract, losing more than $12million, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Folau is reportedly seeking for his contract to be paid out in full should it be terminated.
In addition to potentially having to fork out immediately for Folau's contract, RA is also expecting to lose $8million in the next financial year as a result of hosting less Wallabies tests in Australia.
RA said a decision will be made on Monday at the earliest.
Israel Folau's landmark code of conduct hearing at Rugby Australia (RA) is set to continue on Sunday
Folau (pictured), 30, arrived at the RA headquarters on Saturday morning, where he spent eight hours fighting to save his career
The controversial rugby star (right) pictured with his wife Maria Folau (left)
RA earns most of its money from hosting test matches but the number of games has decreased due to the Rugby World Cup being held in Japan in September.
A $5.2million surplus was announced for 2017-2018 and will be used to prevent possible losses.
A three-person panel, with representatives from RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association, will determine Folau's fate on the field.
Folau arrived at the headquarters in St Leonards, Sydney's lower North Shore, in the back of a black Audi at about 9am, ahead of the 9.30am scheduled hearing.
About ten minutes later, RA chief executive Raelene Castle and NSW Waratahs boss Andrew Hore were seen entering the building.
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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who was not expected to attend, made an intriguing appearance on Saturday.
Cheika's sighting raised the prospect of a possible peace offering, despite saying three weeks ago that he wouldn't be able to pick Folau for Australia again 'as it stands right now'.
The controversial rugby star was issued with a 'high-level' breach notice last month for taking to Instagram to proclaim 'hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators' unless they repent and turn to Jesus.
The full-back of Tongan descent was warned by RA last year after sharing a similar homophobic post that claimed gays were destined for hell.
He then signed his profitable contract extension in October.
No decision was reached to keep his $4 million contract after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they 'repent'
Folau was issued with a 'high-level' breach notice last month after he shared a controversial social media post on Instagram
Folau arrived at the headquarters in St Leonards, Sydney's lower North Shore, in the back of a black Audi at about 9am, ahead of the 9.30am scheduled hearing
Rugby Australia will face insolvency if they have to pay out the Wallabies star's lucrative contract, losing more than $12 million
Folau is being represented by high-profile solicitor Ramy Quatami and barrister Adam Casselden, who recently worked on the coronial inquest into the murder-suicide of Sydney family Maria Lutz and her children Ellie and Martin at the hands of their father Fernando Manrique in 2016.
Folau and his representation will argue the sporting body did not include a specific social media clause in the new contract.
Further, they will argue the post was from the Bible and not directly Folau's words.
But RA, represented by Justin Gleeson SC, are expected to counter argue that Folau breached the governing body's broader code of conduct policy and its inclusion policy - despite the exclusion of a clear social media clause.
Point 1.3 of the players' code of conduct policy says: 'Treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability.
Apart from Folau's contact, the RA is also expecting to lose $8 million in the next financial year as a result of hosing less Wallabies tests in Australia
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika leaves the Rugby Australia building after making an unexpected appearance
A three-person panel, with representatives from RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association, will determine Folau's fate on the field
'Any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination has no place in Rugby'.
The three-person panel is made up of chair John West QC, RA representative Kate Eastman SC and the Rugby Union Players' Association-elected John Boultbee.
If the tribunal determines that Folau has breached his contract, the panel must then decide if the breach was severe enough to terminate his career.
The losing party will have until 72 hours after any decision is handed down to appeal.
Folau broke down in tears while giving an emotional sermon at the Uniting Church in Kenthurst, north west of Sydney, on Easter Sunday.
The footage emerged as Willie Ofahengaue, the first Tongan to represent Australia in rugby union, backed Folau ahead of Saturday's hearing.
If the tribunal determines that Folau has breached his contract, the panel must then decide if the breach was severe enough to terminate his career
The full-back of Tongan descent was warned by RA last year after sharing a similar homophobic post that claimed gays were destined for hell. He then signed his profitable contract extension in October
The losing party will have until 72 hours after any decision is handed down to appeal
The 50-year-old former flanker, who won the World Cup in 1991, told The Australian: 'I understand there were restrictions with his contract but what he said is what he believes.'
'I support what he said. As Christians, we preach what we believe.
'He has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion and he is talking about what he believes. I think it is a bit hard on him to be sacked for saying what he believes and to face these sorts of consequences.'
In the sermon on April 21, Folau preached about figures in the Bible who stood up for their beliefs.
He said: 'At some stage, each and every one of us will face our own fiery furnace, and some of us may have already faced that.
'In your workforce, if they're telling you something that will compromise your faith, this is a test of faith in which you're going to be put in a challenge, and the question is 'What are you going to do?'
Folau began to break down in tears when he spoke about Heaven, requiring a member of the audience to bring him some tissues to wipe his eyes.
About ten minutes after Folau's arrival, RA chief executive Raelene Castle and NSW Waratahs boss Andrew Hore were seen entering the building
A cameraman reacts as John Boultbee crashes his car into railing on arrival at the hearing
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