'He shouldn't speak for all of us': Maori All Black slams Australian rugby star for saying that all Polynesian players 'may as well be sacked' if Israel Folau is dismissed for anti-gay Instagram posts
- Taniela Tupou, 22, posted that Rugby Australia may as well sack all Polynesians
- 'I will never apologise for my faith and what I believe in,' he wrote on Facebook
- The comments come as Israel Folau could be dismissed for his anti-gay posts
- TJ Perenara slammed Tupou, saying it was wrong for him to make the comments
All Blacks star TJ Perenara has slammed an Australian rugby union player who said all Polynesian players 'may as well be sacked' following the Israel Folau controversy.
Taniela Tupou, 22, made the claim on Facebook on May 30, implying all Polynesian football players share Folau's devout Christian beliefs.
Tupou wrote: 'Seriously? Might as well sack me and all the other Pacific Islands rugby players around the world because we have the same Christian beliefs.
'I will never apologise for my faith and what I believe in, religion had nothing to do with rugby anyways? #TYJ'.
All Blacks star TJ Perenara (pictured with his wife, Greer) has slammed a Polynesian-Australian rugby union player who said all Polynesian players 'may as well be sacked' following the Israel Folau controversy
Australia hooker Taniela Tupou (pictured), 22, posted on Facebook that Rugby Australia 'may as well sack' all its Polynesian players
Perenara, who is of Māori descent, responded to the comments, expressing that he felt it was wrong for Tupou to speak on behalf of all Maori and Pacific Island players.
Talking to Jim Kayes on Radio Sport, Perenara said he didn't think it was right for him to make the comment, the NZ Herald reported.
'He can certainly make his own statement if that's how he feels but you can't paint a brush over every single Māori or Pacific Islander who has any religious beliefs,' Perenara said.
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'You can't speak for everyone.'
Perenara attended the Wellington International Pride Parade alongside his wife on Saturday, and said it's their role as role-models to empower people and let them know it's okay to be who they want to be.
'It's obviously a tender subject for a lot of people and I just feel for especially the young people that get influenced by those words and who are trying to figure themselves out at the moment,' he said.
Talking to Jim Kayes on Radio Sport, Perenara said he didn't think it was right for him to make the comment
Tupou was responding to a public apology by teammate Samu Kerevi after the centre was trolled online for a seemingly benign social media post over Easter in which he said he loves Jesus.
Folau, 30, was found guilty of a high-level breach of his $4million contract with Rugby Australia after he shared an Instagram post to his 354,000 followers in April saying 'hell awaits' those who are 'living in sin' unless they 'repent'.
He was stood down by the New South Wales Waratahs after the bible passage was posted to his Instagram page.
Folau was found guilty of a 'high-level' breach of his contract with Rugby Australia during a three-day hearing, meaning the agreement could be terminated.
Folau, 30, was found guilty of a high-level breach of his $4million contract with Rugby Australia after he shared an Instagram post to his 354,000 followers in April saying 'hell awaits' those who are 'living in sin' unless they 'repent' (pictured with his wife, Maria)
RA asked Folau to take down the post as it would be seen as remorseful and allow the breach to be downgraded to a mid or low-level but he refused, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Folau had also rejected a $1million payout offer from RA.
He will become the first Australian athlete dismissed for expressing fundamental religious beliefs if he's sacked by Rugby Australia.
Folau has played 73 tests for the Wallabies and is Super Rugby's all-time leading try-scorer.
He signed with Rugby Australia after playing in the NRL and AFL earlier in his career.
Tongan-born hooker Tupou (pictured) was responding to a bizarre public apology by teammate Samu Kerevi after the centre was trolled online
