Disappointed doesn't even begin to cover it.

[url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/israel-folau-joins-catalans-dragons-super-league-2020-season-religious-views-homophobic-comments-a9305761.htmlDisgusted[/url

worse than saying someone should burn in hell?

Words are nothing on wife abusers. They are not even comparable.

Greg Bird glassed his girlfriend in the face and got less stick.

He's an undesirable religious bigot but not the worst human being we've welcomed into SL.

I agree wife beating and general violent behaviour is disgusting but it doesn't encourage others to do so and most of these have been punished and shown an element of remorse. IF on the other hand promotes bigotry and will be a poster boy for extreme homophobes. I can see no way to spin this on the deserves a second chance line that gets trotted out as he just said he wont say it out loud again

Does this count as a RU exemption for cap purposes?

Agreed

Exactly. What he said wasnt right but the idea his the worst of the worst to play the game is simply absurd.

Its not the fact its the worst thing to do, but form a PR point of view in a family inclusive sport do we really want this kind of publicity

He is guilty of a hate crime and, therefore, should not be allowed into tne country.

https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2020 ... -pride-day Cant wait.

https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2020 ... -pride-day Cant wait.

Superb, and naturally, a remarkable coincidence...

Well played Wigan.

A lot of Tongan/somoan players in super league will be deeply religious and may have similar religious views as folau. They just haven't expressed them on social media.

I hope others follow suit. Show him what we as a country think of his views.

I don't think he's been away from rugby league long enough to qualify. Definately not for the full exemption from the cap anyway.

brilliant!

Disgusted with the RFL and with Catalans - why would you offer him a contract?

Love the Wigan response thoughicon_smile.gif

My god there's some Snowflakes on here.

Who cares what he says & who really looks up to or to any rugby player as a moral compass?

The guys a class rugby player and even if one kid picks up a ball and tries to copy what he does on the pitch, then it's been worthwhile.

I am sure many people associated with the game hold similar views, for religous and non religous reasons, but they don't incite using social media.

Well said, it's a fashionable one to be outraged over at the moment but as they say it's only words.

Frankly, if anyone can get truly outraged by the crackpot notions of a fairly dim RL player they need to look at themselves.

Personally I wouldn't sign him purely for business reasons because, he's past his best, the bad publicity outdoes the good, he's expensive and he isn't French. What he actually thinks is his concern and as this is a free society he is allowed to express it.

What really makes me laugh though is that the easily outraged seem to forget the law when it suits them. Mr Falou has committed no crime, any attempt to refuse him a job due to his opinions would in fact be discrimination in the eyes of the law. If the RFL tried to block Catalan, they/he could take them to Court and would win outright.

People need to be tolerant of the views of others, ie be the exact opposite of Falou.

Best way to think of this is imagine if he changed the target of his opinions and ask yourself if it would be okay?

What if he said that all black people will burn in hell? Or disabled people?

It's no different for gay people. Hiding behind outdated religious nonsense isn't really an excuse. Your religion is yours. Your religious beliefs apply to you. You cannot impose beliefs on others, or at least you shouldn't.

Pretty low spot for the sport, tbh.

Is it really snowflake when someone is saying he believes people should burn in hell because they are attracted to the 'wrong' sex. If he was saying he believed in the Islamic state and all westerners should burn would he be ok as long as he had a good hand off and did the 100m in 10.5 seconds

Being anti bigotry isn't fashionable.

Dave Woods

It's's fair to say that the whole game is appalled by Catalans' decision to sign Israel Folau but they are legally constrained by what they can do.

Rugby Australia sacked him but had to come to an expensive settlement following a court case.

The Australian National Rugby League declared that he would not be welcome in their game but as they didn't ban him that has left the RFL unable to prevent his registration here.

But it's fair to say he will not be welcome at any domestic Super League grounds.

Wigan's immediate reaction to declare that their home game against Catalans will now be a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community is a reflection of the sentiments of every other Super League club.

It's rare to see such a united front from both the Super League and RFL in their condemnation of this signing.

They really will sign anyone wont they