'He was never told not to do it again': Wallabies legend blames Rugby Australia for causing the Israel Folau by failing to tell him exactly what he could and couldn't say publicly
- A Wallabies legend revealed what led him to change his mind about Israel Folau
- Former captain Nick Farr-Jones, 57, was planning to advise Folau to apologise
- But after meeting with the 30-year-old, Farr-Jones said he has changed his mind
A Wallabies legend claimed Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle never told Israel Folau explicitly what he could and couldn't tweet - and after meeting the under fire start he changed his view on the saga.
Former Australia captain Nick Farr-Jones, 57, had planned to advise Folau to apologise over his social media posts in which he said homosexuals and other perceived sinners were destined for hell.
But after meeting with the 30-year-old, Farr-Jones said he has changed his mind on the need for Folau to apologise.
Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones, 57 (pictured), was planning to advise Folau to apologise over his social media posts before meeting with the under-fire superstar
A Rugby Australia panel has found Israel Folau guilty of a 'high-level' breach of player's code
Folau reached out to 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Farr-Jones, a fellow committed Christian, a fortnight ago and flew back to Sydney from Adelaide to seek his counsel.
'I had a lot of difficult and hard questions (for him),' Farr-Jones told Seven's Sunrise on Wednesday, the day after a code of conduct hearing found Folau had committed a 'high level' breach of his Rugby Australia contract by making the post.
'But after 90 minutes, I felt that I knew the man. I thought I knew the authenticity of the man and I certainly understood his beliefs.'
Rugby Australia said it had formally warned Folau against making inflammatory social media comments last year before awarding him his new four-year, $4 million contract.
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Folau took to Instagram last month to proclaim 'hell awaits' for 'drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators' - a quote from 1 Corinthians in the Bible.
But Farr-Jones said Folau disputes how strongly that message was conveyed by Ms Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Castle met with Folau in London prior to November's Test against England and he was advised on writing about his beliefs in a respectful, non-offensive way, according to Farr-Jones.
'She proposed to him, say something like 'heaven awaits those who repent from their sins'. Tip-toeing around what he said,' he said.
Folau's perceived lack of clarity on what he could and couldn't say and 'loving' intentions toward sinners led to Farr-Jones changing his mind.
'When I first met with him ... I was going to encourage him to say 'look, I apologise. I won't do it again and can I have another chance',' Farr-Jones said.
Folau was issued with a 'high-level' breach notice last month after he shared a social media post which claimed homosexuals were going to hell unless they 'repent'
'He doesn't believe he's done anything wrong.
'I did originally (think he should apologise) had he been told don't do this again - don't mention the word hell, for example, awaits these various groups of people,' he said.
'But he's saying he was never instructed that way.
'He does it, I promise you, in a loving way, wanting to seek change in people.
'I know a lot of people don't get it.'
Folau is awaiting sanction after being found guilty of a 'high level' breach of his contract and could have his four-year, $4 million deal terminated.
Farr-Jones said Folau disputes how strongly that message was conveyed by Raelene Castle (right) and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika
Israel Folau (pictured) now faces an anxious wait as the panel deliberates on his punishment
Should the three-person independent panel choose the most severe level of punishment, it's expected the Wallabies superstar will appeal.
But with insiders estimating Folau would have already outlayed in excess of $100,000 on legal representation for his landmark code of conduct hearing, it remains to be seen if he is willing and able to take it to the courts.
It's been suggested Folau would be spending $25,000 a week on solicitor fees, even before stepping inside a hearing room.
Should he be sacked, then lose an appeal and take the matter to court, the financial cost to Folau could be astronomical.
The best the 73-Test veteran can hope for is leniency from the panel and a suspension and/or fine, for his Instagram comments last month.
Regardless of the sanction, which is not expected to be handed down for several days, Folau is said to be handling the threat of termination with dignity.
Folau faced a three-man panel at a code of conduct hearing in Sydney over three days
'I've just had a note form Israel, he won't mind if I'm sharing it with you because I said to him, 'Hold your head up',' former Wallabies coach Alan Jones said on 2GB radio on Wednesday.
'He said: 'Alan, I'm at peace, mate. My head is held high'.'
Jones, for one, is urging Folau to 'take this fight every inch of the way'.
'This will go as far as the High Court if it has to go there,' he said.
'The battle has just begun.'
