Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones slammed the treatment of Israel Folau on Wednesday, calling those punishing him over homophobic comments “sick” but adding that the star fullback had told him he was “at peace”.
The devoutly Christian player on Tuesday was found guilty of a “high-level” breach of the sport’s code of conduct after posting an anti-gay statement on social media, leaving his career hanging in the balance.
He faces his lucrative four-year contract being terminated, with the three-person code of conduct panel taking written submissions from his legal team and Rugby Australia before deciding on his punishment.
Jones, who coached the Wallabies during a golden era in the late 1980s, has been a frequent critic of Rugby Australia and one of the staunchest defenders of Folau’s right to free speech.
He says: “I’ve just had a note from Israel, he won’t mind if I’m sharing it with you because I said to him, ‘Hold your head up’.”
“He said, ‘Alan, I’m at peace, mate. My head is held high’.