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Rugby Australia is facing a potential Polynesian player mutiny after one of the Wallabies' most exciting prospects claimed all Pacific Islanders "might as well just be sacked" owing to their religious beliefs.
Key points:
- Taniela Tupou responded to comments from Reds captain Samu Kerevi relating to a religious post over Easter
- Israel Folau faces a Rugby Australia hearing on Saturday over his comments
- A third of Australia's last Test line-up of 2018 had a Polynesian background
Days out from Israel Folau's attempt to save his multi-million-dollar career at a Rugby Australia (RA) code of conduct hearing, Queensland Reds and Wallabies hooker Taniela Tupou took to Facebook to express his support for the under-fire superstar.
"Seriously ... Might as well sack me and all the other Pacific Islands rugby players around the world because we have the same Christian beliefs," Tupou posted late on Tuesday night.
"I will never apologise for my faith and what I believe in, religion had nothing to do with rugby anyways... #TYJ"
Tupou, who rose to prominence as a schoolboy player in Auckland and whose signing with Rugby Australia in 2014 was seen as a significant boost to the side, has earned himself the nickname "Tongan Thor" thanks to his incredible strength on the rugby field.
The 22-year-old Reds prop attached a link to an earlier post from fellow Wallabies teammate and Reds captain Samu Kerevi, who apologised after taking to Instagram at Easter thanking "Jesus for dying on the cross for me. I love you Jesus#".
"I appreciate the kind messages from everyone," Kerevi posted.
"But to be clear I'm not apologising for my faith in Jesus Christ my saviour.
"God will always come first in my life and many other professional rugby players.
"Today, I felt things were taken out of context in regards to certain articles.
"I do not feel obliged to apologise to people because of the situation happening right now with a brother of mine."
Last month RA issued Folau with a breach of contract notice following his latest round of controversial posts.
The three-time John Eales Medallist had been previously warned by RA about his social media conduct, and the game's governing body subsequently announced its intention to terminate his contract.
Folau was stood down by the NSW Waratahs in the wake of an Instagram post claiming hell awaited "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators" unless they repent and turn to Jesus Christ.
Folau will front a three-person tribunal — comprising chair John West, RA's representative Kate Eastman SC and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA)-appointed John Boultbee SC — on Saturday.
However, Folau has since received backing from England star Billy Vunipola, who liked Folau's post and called for people to "live their lives how God intended".
Brisbane-born Vunipola was himself slapped with a warning by his English club Saracens over his defence of Folau's post and handed a "formal warning" by the English Rugby Football Union.
Vunipola was roundly booed by Munster fans in the European Cup semi-final the weekend after his comments, while England teammate James Haskell said that he was "disappointed" that people had liked Folau's post.
Haskell had earlier described Folau's post as "spreading hate" and "the biggest load of s*** I have ever read".
However, Vunipola's England teammates, Manu Tuilagi, Nathan Hughes, Courtney Lawes — who wrote his own post defending Vunipola's right to express his opinion — and Wales backrower Taulupe Faletau, all "liked" Vunipola's social media post.
A third of Australia's last Test line-up of 2018 had a Polynesian background
ABC/AAP
Topics: sport, rugby-union, australia, nsw, qld
First posted