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There's lots that could be said about Israel Folau. Not least, that it would be really sad not to see him in the World Cup.
24 hours on, a number of other players speaking out in support of Folau: Billy Vunipola, Nathan Hughes, Courtney Lawes, Taulupe Faletau, Manu Tuilagi, Nick Isiekwe. That's almost half a team.
And a pretty good team, at that.
Courtney Lawes (and Luther Burrell too): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-6916847/Lawes-defends-England-team-mate-Vunipola-supporting-Folau-homophobic-social-media-posts.html?fbclid=IwAR36n8IJLTAGrt_puAJLE2ddafQXrslkeo-8DDMHVXIvNAnpGzsueQXKKYQ
Ireland centre Bundee Aki and Wallabies Samu Kerevi and Allan Alaalatoa are mentioned in this piece:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sports/rugby-union/israel-folau-the-prehistoric-pillock-e2-80-99s-bigoted-outburst-has-added-to-australia-e2-80-99s-rugby-crisis/ar-BBVSwgH
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sports/rugby-union/israel-folau-the-prehistoric-pillock-e2-80-99s-bigoted-outburst-has-added-to-australia-e2-80-99s-rugby-crisis/ar-BBVSwgH
List of players who "liked" IF's Instagram post from Owen Slot's column in The Times.
These are the money quotes, although the people who said them might not realise why. Is rugby union "inclusive" enough to accomodate people who have traditional Christian (and Muslim, and Jewish) views on marriage and human sexuality?
Because if not, there's an awful lot of people who are going to need to be shown the door.
Oh, and, this: the list is only "perplexingly long" if you live in an echo chamber.
Channel 4's (unsurprising) take: we're inclusive, but not that inclusive:
PS Billy Vunipola was booed when he played for Saracens at Bristol at the weekend. Identity politics isn't my thing, but I didn't think a majority white crowd was meant to boo a brown-skinned man for his religious beliefs. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/11693286/billy-vunipola-booed-as-saracens-lose-to-bristol-bears
Saracens have now released a statement. Hard not to read their claim to be open to all as somewhat hollow: they appear to be open to people who hold a traditional view of marriage & human sexuality, only on the condition that they keep their mouths shut.
Matthew Parris writes on the episode in The Times:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-don-t-think-hell-awaits-me-but-billy-vunipola-can-if-he-wants-m8lcz6xwp?shareToken=d95d486702a7dd7bf50ffbc399eb53cb&fbclid=IwAR0bwcFTpaZdeUkwr48b8aIfhWmZy-vAuVNIEgThZdJZDO9BBppGdli8z74
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-don-t-think-hell-awaits-me-but-billy-vunipola-can-if-he-wants-m8lcz6xwp?shareToken=d95d486702a7dd7bf50ffbc399eb53cb&fbclid=IwAR0bwcFTpaZdeUkwr48b8aIfhWmZy-vAuVNIEgThZdJZDO9BBppGdli8z74
And this is an interesting take from Down Under: https://twitter.com/jamesmiller62/status/1118434535706775553
And this is @brianmoore666 on the issue in The Telegraph. It us not obvious (to me) why he thinks that Folau may have broken the law. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/04/15/religious-beliefs-not-israel-folau-rest-rugby-must-follow-rules/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
The RFU have given Vunipola a warning, also taking the "inclusivity" line. Implication: rugby is inclusive enough to include people who take a traditional Christian (& Jewish, & Muslim) line on marriage/sexuality, but only if they keep their mouths shut. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47948205
@ugomonye pitches in. This bit absolutely nails it:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/apr/18/israel-folau-lifestyle-choice-rugby-union-ugo-monye
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/apr/18/israel-folau-lifestyle-choice-rugby-union-ugo-monye
also points out a rather obvious double standard
Here's the take of former Chelsea, Bournemouth, QPR, Newcastle, Charlton and Gillingham legend @GPeacock8 on the matter: http://www.gavinpeacock.net/blog/2019/4/16/you-will-lose-everything
By the by, imagine that Israel Folau and Billy Vunipola are right in what they say - or, at least, that they *sincerely believe* in what they are saying. Wouldn't that make what they are saying *a loving warning*, rather than "bigoted stone-age hate speech"?
Alan Jones, a former @qantaswallabies coach, speaks clearly and astutely on the issue:
Phillip Jensen, an Australian Christian leader, comments on the Folau episode here: http://phillipjensen.com/israel-folau-and-three-myths-of-a-changing-society/?fbclid=IwAR1OWfKCMfExrsKwQ0rs1DmrfN4sbj7IP717gw65YGymkfjULg4UwIerxUI
Dawn Grace-Cohen, an Australian gay rights activist, makes an interesting argument here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/silencing-folau-with-queer-fascism-betrays-our-gay-marriage-victory-20190503-p51jsk.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1556925138
@Laurence_ADFInt raises some challenging questions here: https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/05/israel-folau-and-the-right-to-freedom-of-expression/
As does @smcalpine6. I find his analogy with colonialism to be insightful: https://stephenmcalpine.com/sexular-colonialism/
Some observations by @MurrayJCampbell https://murraycampbell.net/2019/05/08/israel-folau-decision-may-set-a-course-for-the-future/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Former Australian World Cup winning captain Nick Farr-Jones pitches in:
Good piece from @SimonJonSmart https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-i-wish-i-could-have-said-as-a-christian-to-folau-before-he-took-to-instagram-20190512-p51miw.html
Update: Folau sacked. Although I would be surprised if he doesn't appeal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/48306223?__twitter_impression=true
The world's best referee, Nigel Owens, gives his verdict:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48320171
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48320171
Of course, it's sad that someone who is as astute a ref as Nigel can't see the contradiction between saying that rugby is inclusive, and yet also saying that people who have traditional religious beliefs about sex and marriage are only included on the basis that they self-censor.
Bret Harris writes on the episode in The Guardian. Money quote in the final paragraph.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/21/israel-folau-case-highlights-need-to-reassure-pacific-island-wallabies?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR1xsDrWXxsFjmHBhmnVsl6JRufW5fO-4XLoJboCvGQbLo1Gj6Pjy9MWnVE
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/21/israel-folau-case-highlights-need-to-reassure-pacific-island-wallabies?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR1xsDrWXxsFjmHBhmnVsl6JRufW5fO-4XLoJboCvGQbLo1Gj6Pjy9MWnVE
I like this take from @AkosBaloghCom
http://akosbalogh.com/2019/05/20/dear-izzy-if-only-you-had-behaved-like-an-elite-athlete/
http://akosbalogh.com/2019/05/20/dear-izzy-if-only-you-had-behaved-like-an-elite-athlete/
And this one from @sportslawyer7
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/an-abhorrent-post-but-proverbial-folau-death-penalty-a-step-too-far-20190510-p51lz0.html
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/an-abhorrent-post-but-proverbial-folau-death-penalty-a-step-too-far-20190510-p51lz0.html
Commentary in @EvangelicalsNow
http://www.e-n.org.uk/2019/06/uk-news/sin-binned-rugby-hits-freedom-of-speech-hard/
http://www.e-n.org.uk/2019/06/uk-news/sin-binned-rugby-hits-freedom-of-speech-hard/
War of words between Folau and Rugby Australia: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/rugby-australia-issue-statement-following-sensational-israel-folau-accusation/
@RichardsKel writes in @australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/folaus-faith-compelled-him-to-shout-a-warning-repent/news-story/959d971840d50415402de018f4db1d10?fbclid=IwAR3KRKbEUN8K8MVllyz1OaCOYgNDbn-6FKvewLHEfh4UdcOywuA1Y788ajE
I like this
Long thread on the funding for the litigation from @Laurence_ADFInt https://twitter.com/Laurence_ADFInt/status/1141982052696432640?s=20
Surprisingly balanced piece in The Guardian on the wider implications of the case: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/23/israel-folau-and-the-tension-at-the-heart-of-religious-freedom?CMP=share_btn_tw
Folau's crowdfunder shut down, in the name of "inclusivity" https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-australia-48740811?__twitter_impression=true
People are having a go at Israel Folau's wife for publicly supporting him. @MurrayJCampbell writes: https://murraycampbell.net/2019/06/24/netball-australia-sets-the-right-tone-for-civil-disagreement/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Drew Mitchell, a decent Wallabies winger in his day, sticks the metaphorical boot in: https://twitter.com/drew_mitchell/status/1143056867532296192?s=20
@steve_kneale compares the Folau incident with other temporary episodes
https://stephenkneale.com/2019/06/25/folau-gofundme-discrimination-and-feigning-progress/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
https://stephenkneale.com/2019/06/25/folau-gofundme-discrimination-and-feigning-progress/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
*contemporary
I missed this piece by Peter Singer
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/rugby-australia-israel-folau-firing-free-speech-by-peter-singer-2019-06
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/rugby-australia-israel-folau-firing-free-speech-by-peter-singer-2019-06
News report here. The tribunal hearing starts tomorrow.
Fascinating @triggerpod intreview clip with @_HelenDale who argues that the Folau episode had an impact on the Australian election
Mediation between Israel Folau and Rugby Australia has failed. Next stop: court.
[Whatever the outcome, I guess this means we won't see Folau in the autumn World Cup. Which, as I said at the start of this thread, will be a great shame.]
I like this piece by @WillSwanton https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/dignity-in-israel-folaus-respectful-silence/news-story/828a3db1b72254805efaf232321a0675
One of the best pieces I've read on the issue https://www.abc.net.au/religion/the-israel-folau-case-has-been-mishandled-from-the-start/11253210
Interesting legal insight here https://twitter.com/theboltreport/status/1145624336692211712?s=20
Footnote: The saga cost @wallabies millions https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/the-cost-of-folau-to-rugby-australia-s-bottom-line-20200511-p54ry5.html?fbclid=IwAR1dHm6fk52YFQPbkNG2DNRAfLZJdB7Aygy2wxDu5UNA67NlrBnS50iKhM0
A twist in the tale which no-one saw coming: Israel Folau, now playing rugby league for Catalan Dragons, declines to "take the knee" in support of BLM. His new coach defends this as Folau's "personal choice". https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/53632508
