'What A Joke': Folau Family Unloads On Rainbow Pride Jersey Saga
The Folau family has broken its silence on the rainbow pride jersey saga currently engulfing the NRL.
More specifically, they have taken aim at Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys.
Former New Zealand netball player Maria Folau, who is also the wife of former Wallabies star Israel Folau, has called out the so-called "hypocrisy" of V'landys after he showed some support to the boycotting Manly Sea Eagles players.
"We're all human being at the end of the day," V'landys said at the time.
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"But at the same time you have to respect the players religious beliefs.
"Those players are taking a stance and they have every right to."
Maria Folau soon caught wind of V'landys' comments and went to town on him via social media.
"'We’re all human beings at the end of the day’... Umm so what’s Izzy? A donkey?" she posted.
"The hypocrisy from this man and this organisation @nrl #PeterVlandys What a joke!!!!"
Her anger clearly stems from her husband's previous run-ins with the rugby league boss.
Back in 2019, it was rumoured that Israel Folau could return to the NRL after his contract with Rugby Australia was torn up following a series of homophobic social media posts.
On of which said that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” were going to hell.
V'landys was quick to put those whispers to bed, ruling out a second coming in the NRL for Folau.
He also sent a stern "no tolerance" message for any form of discrimination – no matter who talented an athlete you are.
“The game is inclusive. Israel’s comments are not inclusive,” V’landys said.
“When I was a kid and kids used to get bashed up because they were different, I used to go and defend them. And a lot of them, it’s because their role models or their peers made them that way.
“I have no tolerance for people that put other people’s lives (at risk) or (commit) violence. It’s a big statement to make. With due respect to Israel, what he says, young kids listen to. He is a role model. They act on it. And when you’re a kid at school and you get bashed up because you’re different, I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
Topics: Australia, NRL, Rugby League
Max Sherry