Aussie Pro Rugby
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@Chris-B the dangers of religious (and political ideas). Even the Jihadi terrorists think what they are doing is moral.
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@bones said in Aussie Rugby in general:
@stargazer Hang on, can't that just be twisted so that what he's said literally means to a gay person that their religion is a bunch of bollocks?
I think this would be a natural reaction to a mature confident person who was relaxed about their sexuality, particularly if they were raised in a secular or semi-secular household.
However what we're really concerned about is someone who is young, impressionable, confused about their sexual attractions and comes from a religious family. That person might well view Folou's comments as implying that there is something wrong with them as a person. The last thing we need is for people going through the toughest period of their lives thinking that they are at fault for something they cannot control and did not ask for.
I am very prepared to believe that comments like we've seen from Folou might have a very harmful effect on such people. Folou can believe and say whatever the hell he likes, but let's not pretend there are no consequences to it.
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@kiwimurph said in Aussie Rugby in general:
Rugby AU CEO Raelene Castle, who met with NSW Rugby CEO Andrew Hore and Folau over the issue last week, said they weren't going to punish Folau over any of his comments. “In his article, Israel clearly articulated his religious beliefs and why his faith is important to him and has provided context behind his social media comment," Castle said in a statement. “In his own words, Israel said that he did not intend to upset people intentionally or bring hurt to the game. We accept Israel’s position. “Rugby Australia will use this experience as an opportunity to remind all employees of their obligation to use social media in a respectful way."i.e. Nothing To See Here, let's all get back to the rugby, hmm?
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This article from Sumo Stevenson has a point:
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@stargazer was reading that this afternoon.
Let's face it: Folau is a cash cow to whoever signs him. And right now his agent will be jacking price everywhere.
Rugby Australia could do worse than walk away from Folau IMHO. Its not like he's added to the empire beyond promoting Israel Folau.
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@stargazer said in Aussie Rugby in general:
This article from Sumo Stevenson has a point:
Whilst he may have a point in there somewhere when he says shit like this
"Folau is indeed entitled to hold whatever views he likes, even those that would seem to run counter to the views of his employer, Rugby Australia, and the views of a number of the sport’s participants, fans, and families; and commercial partners."
it implies that he should not have views counter to his employer et al which is, in my mind repressive. Moreover and not wishing to jump on the christian/muslim bandwagon, I doubt very much Folau would be copping quite so much flak had he not been a run of the mil God botherer.
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@nta said in Aussie Rugby in general:
@stargazer was reading that this afternoon.
Let's face it: Folau is a cash cow to whoever signs him. And right now his agent will be jacking price everywhere.
Rugby Australia could do worse than walk away from Folau IMHO. Its not like he's added to the empire beyond promoting Israel Folau.
It would be a fantastic stand to make from a lets keep the diversity agenda front and centre, but as others have pointed out it could send out a message to the Christian sector (and more strongly the Islander Christian sector), that perhaps the rules of Christianity aren't in synch with the ARU ...
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@majorrage I'm not saying force him out - just don't offer a contract renewal next time around on the basis that he's not lifting the profile of anyone but Israel Folau.
I'm not saying he's unhealthy for Australian Rugby. But he's hardly a cure for its ills.
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@barbarian no doubt very high profile. Good on the field.
BUT has he won us any Bledisloes? World Cups? Helped Super Rugby crowds come back, has he?
His management are going to want more money next time, especially if the fish heads at RA are pissing their pants at the thought of losing him. And they've got history with overpaying players, which is why we're here.
One player is not bigger than the game.
We've got other things we could spend a couple of million a year on, like fixing the game. I was having a beer with @mariner4life and one of his QLD buddies recently in Surry Hills, and their eyes nearly popped out of their head when I said there was only 1 development officer for Western Sydney.
One person. Western Sydney.
For what Folau gets, minus what we could pay two fulltime players, you could triple that effort and start to get some traction we're sorely lacking out here.
The game is fucked at the moment, and throwing more money at one bloke isn't going to un-fuck it at anything like the pace it needs.
You wouldn't base a rugby club around one player, would you?
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Good on ya Brad Weber! Well put
"I can't stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he's saying," Weber posted on his Twitter account.
"To think that I play against someone that says they'll go to Hell for being gay disgusts me."
When a commenter replied that surely Folau was entitled to express his opinion, Weber replied: "Yep. But so am I. And my opinion of his is one that disgusts me." -
@crucial said in Aussie Rugby in general:
Good on ya Brad Weber! Well put
"I can't stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he's saying," Weber posted on his Twitter account.
"To think that I play against someone that says they'll go to Hell for being gay disgusts me."
When a commenter replied that surely Folau was entitled to express his opinion, Weber replied: "Yep. But so am I. And my opinion of his is one that disgusts me."Certainly he has a right to say what he did.
Looks like virtue signalling to me though.
It doesn't really add anything positive to this brouhaha in my opinion.
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@nta Two points:
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If you applied the 'have they won any Bledisloes' criteria then you wouldn't sign anyone. Or give any pay increases. What a ridiculous thing to put on him. But more importantly...
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The players get a set % of ARU revenue under their CBA. So as much as I agree with the sentiment, any pay rise Folau gets comes from the pockets of his fellow players, not the people of Western Sydney. And if you showed him the door, his millions would need to be redistributed to other players (none of whom have won any Bledisloes either).
Now is that % too high? Maybe. Although I think it's in line with other codes.
But certainly the neglect of the grassroots is an issue that can't be solved by booting Israel, or cutting his pay.
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Aus rugby very much needs Folau, certainly more then he needs Aus Rugby.
For all the "he hasn't won us the Bledisloe" he's won you a lot of games just by being able to score tries when everyone else is playing a bit shit.
He's the one guy in Aus rugby who people will actually get excited by watching him play.
Without getting all Fitzy on it, he's probably the only Wallaby who i would take to start for the ABs. He's a fucking great player (if not a great fullback).
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@nta said in Aussie Rugby in general:
only 1 development officer for Western Sydney.
that still astounds me. And i thought the QRU were grossly negligent.
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@siam said in Aussie Rugby in general:
@crucial said in Aussie Rugby in general:
Good on ya Brad Weber! Well put
"I can't stand that I have to play this game that I love with people, like Folau, who say what he's saying," Weber posted on his Twitter account.
"To think that I play against someone that says they'll go to Hell for being gay disgusts me."
When a commenter replied that surely Folau was entitled to express his opinion, Weber replied: "Yep. But so am I. And my opinion of his is one that disgusts me."Certainly he has a right to say what he did.
Looks like virtue signalling to me though.
It doesn't really add anything positive to this brouhaha in my opinion.
Bullshit. Read his second tweet:
No Rugby AU sanction for Folau over social media use
