Israel Folau has reached an out-of-court settlement with Rugby Australia (RA) following its multi-million-dollar lawsuit. It's the end of a months-long, bitter dispute on both sides. An end that is also viewed critically. Association head Raelene Castle now fought against allegations that the association had capitulated. The agreement was an "economic decision". A process would not have been in the sense of the game.
Rugby Australia had ended in May the to 2022 valid, million-dollar four-year contract with Folau. Reason for this were hate messages of the 30-year-old in social networks, the devout Christian had written, inter alia, to the address of "drunkards, homosexuals, adulterers": "Hell is waiting for you."
The 73-time international player was legally against his dismissal, his contract was illegally terminated for religious reasons. As compensation for damages Folau demanded from the association and its former club NSW Waratahs 14 million Australian dollars (about 8.6 million euros).
Following a two-day mediation, the two sides announced in a joint written statement that the article had reflected on true religious beliefs. However, he did not want to harm or offend anyone. Rugby Australia was "in no way agree with the content of the post," it said.
Confidential details such as the sum of the comparison would "not comment further". The head of the bank's decision on payments of several million dollars was decisively rejected by RA boss Castle. Other media do not even report half a million. Castle said only that the agreement gives the Association planning security, it was simply cheaper than a process.
Folau settlement numbers are confidential but numbers are speculated wildly inaccurate
- Raelene Castle (@raelenecastle) December 4, 2019That the association apologized in the message to Folau and his family, Castle defended that it was a very hard time for the followers, as well as for Rugby Australia. The apology was thus meant in these two directions. "At the end of the day, it was the difficult time Rugby Australia apologized for, but we stand by our decision."
