Anyone seen a story in the Telegraph about GRR being Folau's saviour. It's behind the paywall and I can't get it. But then if its written by that lying Pandaram maybe I shouldn't bother
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Anyone seen a story in the Telegraph about GRR being Folau's saviour. It's behind the paywall and I can't get it. But then if its written by that lying Pandaram maybe I shouldn't bother
Just for you.
Global Rapid Rugby: Billionaire could save Israel Folau’s rugby career
MAY 08, 2019
Billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest could provide Israel Folau with a lifeline if the Wallabies star is sacked.
Forrest’s Global Rapid Rugby competition, which he started after the Western Force was axed from Super Rugby, is set to expand next year and the tournament is seeking star signings.
The Daily Telegraph understands that there is interest in making Folau the marquee signing of one of the overseas clubs – Hong Kong based South China Tigers, Singapore-based Asia Pacific Dragons, Fiji and Samoa are involved in a showcase 2019 tournament.
Forrest could not be reached for comment, but a tournament spokesman did not rule out a play for the fullback when asked specifically about Folau.
“Global Rapid Rugby has been talking to many high profile players, and will continue to do so,” the spokesman said.
Israel Folau would be a perfect marquee signing for Global Rapid Rugby. Picture: Getty
The potential lifeline comes as Folau’s prospects dry up – the NRL’s chairman Peter Beattie reiterated he would not be welcomed back – while sportswear company ASICS pulled their personal sponsorship after Folau’s homophobic social media posts.
Folau’s $4 million contract with Rugby Australia is in serious doubt after a three-person panel deemed that he had committed a high-level breach of his professional player’s code of conduct on Tuesday evening, after 22 hours of hearings across three days.
The panel is not expected to finalise a sanction for Folau until next week, but termination is a strong possibility.
If that eventuates, 30-year-old Folau will struggle to land a deal overseas, given international based players and club owners have been critical of his ultrareligious views.
That’s where Forrest, also a devout Christian, could swoop.
Global Rapid Rugby logo.
Forrest has previously spoken of how the Bible has inspired him to donate millions of dollars to charity.
However it’s understood that if Folau was to sign with the second-tier competition, there would be stringent social media clauses inserted into a contract offer to ensure Global Rapid Rugby does not become engulfed in the same storm RA is enduring.
ASICS dumped Folau on Wednesday as an ambassador following backlash from their customers.
ASICS had personally sponsored Folau in a deal estimated to be worth $50,000 a year. They also sponsor the Wallabies, which remains until 2025, but have cut ties with Folau.
In a public statement, the company said: “ASICS is dedicated to sport and its healthy contribution to society. We believe sport is for everyone and we champion inclusivity and diversity.
Founder of Global Rapid Rugby Andrew Forrest at Queenstown Stadium in Singapore. Picture: Getty
“While Israel Folau is entitled to his personal views, some of those expressed in recent social media posts are not aligned with those of ASICS.
“As such, our partnership with Israel has become untenable and he will no longer represent ASICS as a brand ambassador.”
Last year, after Folau’s first anti-gay comments, Land Rover confiscated a sponsored car given to him.
The loss of the ASICS deal is another financial blow for Folau, who has already racked up legal expenses of six figures fighting for a payout from RA.
A high-level breach is what RA had determined Folau had committed with his April 10 Instagram post saying homosexuals and other sinners were destined for hell unless they repented.
That was a determination made by RA’s integrity unit, and RA used that as the basis to announce they intended to terminate Folau’s contract.
Folau’s legal team argued that RA never made it clear exactly what the player could and could not post on social media, therefore if the panel ruled he had made a code of conduct breach, they’d have to deem it on the low or medium level scale, which would now allow RA to sack him.
But after Folau was formally warned for a similar post last year by RA, the panel decided he had met the high-level threshold. They have now adjourned to make a decision, although this is not expected until next week, with both parties making written submissions to them this week.
Just the usual empty speculation we’ve come to expect from our media these days.
I mean seriously, this qualifies for journalism in Australia these days..Quote:
Forrest could not be reached for comment, but a tournament spokesman did not rule out a play for the fullback when asked specifically about Folau.
“Global Rapid Rugby has been talking to many high profile players, and will continue to do so,” the spokesman said.
Bloody friggen hope not! Not interested in any over inflated egos, and he’s got to be the laziest player I’ve ever seen. Wouldn’t last 10 minutes on the field with the boys!
Still remains to be seen what 'GRR' looks like this year and what teams might be playing in it, let alone who controls and/or pays for what. Without that, anything is speculation at best, shit journalism more likely. Nonetheless, if we are speculating, certainly can't see him playing here. But who could say what some of the other teams might decide to do. Bet he wouldn't be on a million a year if it happened though.
Can't imagine that Fiji, Samoa or Tonga would have any issues with Israel expressing his beliefs.
Dally Messenger is going to come back to life and return to Rugby with GRR.
I’m a Rugby journalist now.
As with Honey Badger, you can't ignore the marketing potential he would give to the Pacific teams & inherently GRR - and as well as the promotional aspect, it would be a great kick in the teeth to RA and getting one over on that pack is reward itself. Although could be tricky with getting some sponsors on board as I doubt he's going to refrain from posting in the future. Still doubt whether he'd be up to a game of Rapid Rugby.
Folau played AFL, where the players cover significant distances during the match. Folau would blow a bit for the first games, but he's probably a player who would be able to convert to the faster pace better than many.
I agree on the problem with sponsors, though. He might get more people along to the game, and even attract local sponsorship, but the Pacific Island teams are likely to need multi-national companies sponsoring them to make them commercially viable (even if they do have a rich sugar-daddy) and most multi-national companies want to steer clear of such controversy.
Ascics have dumped him
Not sure what your point is?
A lot of people seem to be conveniently overlooking the most basic fact, he breached his contract of employment plain and simple. Basically what you're saying is that his contract of employment is not worth the paper it's written on. He should be free to do what the fuck he likes, skip training, turn up to games late, coked off his eyeballs.....
Sorry, exactly how did he breach his contract? His contract apparently said nothing about inflammatory social media posts because he refused to allow it to be added after the fact. In essence, you're the one saying his contract isn't worth the paper it's written on by saying RA can add clauses whenever they like
Come on mate, you know exactly how he breached his contract, its been posted here a 100 times already, including the document itself. Its funny how you conveniently choose to ignore this. Its called the code of conduct, and it appears he breached up to 3 sections of it. Notably section 1.3
At my work place my contract ties back to the companies policies and procedures, if I breach those, depending on the level of breach I can be disciplined, or even sacked for high level ones instantly. Not everything is stipulated inside the contract itself it just refers to the companies guidelines , policies and procedures.
How can this be so hard to understand. And for those that just like to state that this is just a quote from a book and not actually his own words, try quoting from the protocols of the elders of zion and see how far that gets you..
For mine, that is where this will get interesting. Because if it is that they have relied on, then the CoC becomes a defacto contractual document that also gives equal billing to things like respecting the ref and showing no obvious dissension, disagreement or disapproval of the any refereeing decision. So it might need to convene the review board pretty permanently, as I can think of dozens of instances of that. Not to mention not getting pinged for repeated acts of foul play, or even just being a modest and gracious good sport. Applies to coaches as well, so given they are setting the precedent that it is now a "two strikes and its contractual termination" policy... ;)
I think you've got that one wrong GIGS20, the Code of Conduct has got Izy covered with public "inflammatory" commentary - social media or other - when it comes to vilification of one section of the overall community ie the opposite of inclusion (being Rugby's core tenet)
Let's face it, if you need a special individual clause in a standard employment contract to protect the employer from action or utterance of the individual employee, it begs the question should that guy be employed 8n the first place. Which brings us right back to RA offering Izy this second improved contract after the first contrtemps. Somebody somewhere should have offered the POV the game is bigger than the individual. Izy is by all accounts a fine upstanding young man. However if he can't keep his divisive sermonising to his OWN congregation he becomes a problem. Just as much as other guys have never been selected because they are seen as divisive to the change room etc.
If we want to talk inclusion. Folau was incredibly inclusive in his post. I find it had to believe that there's anybody in the rugby community that doesn't qualify for hell based upon the standard he posted.
RA are the ones focusing on a single people group.
The fact that foau rejected a contract modification that essentially clarified the code of contract breach they're trying to sack him over AND STILL HAD A JOB certainly weakens their case.
It doesn't matter how homophobic you are or aren't, the legal entanglements within this one are complex.