Rugby Australia and Israel Folau settle legal dispute with mutual apologies

Rugby Australia and former Wallaby Israel Folau have apologised to each other as part of a confidential settlement reached over the former rugby star's sacking earlier this year.

With the dispute having been mediated over the past three days, the ex-Wallaby reached an out-of-court settlement - believed to be worth $8 million - with his former employer for an undisclosed amount, bringing to an end a bitter feud that erupted in April.

The 30-year-old was seeking $14 million in compensation from Rugby Australia after the governing body ended his contract in May following a social media post in which the dual-code international wrote that gay people among others, would go to hell.

After his contract was terminated, Folau then took legal action against Rugby Australia, demanding compensation and an apology for what he claimed was unlawful dismissal.

Folau maintained he’d done nothing wrong by simply quoting the bible and expressing his religious beliefs, while Rugby Australia argued he had breached his code of conduct by vilifying gay people.

Mediation talks between Folau and Rugby Australia began at the Federal Court in Melbourne on Monday but were suspended after 12 hours.

Today, a joint statement from Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby and Folau confirmed a settlement had been reached after talks resumed via teleconference.

The joint statement advised "the Social Media Post reflected Mr Folau’s genuinely held religious beliefs, and Mr Folau did not intend to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the Social Media Post. Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity. 

"Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby do not in any way agree with the content of the Social Media Post. Inclusiveness is one of Rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community. While it was not Rugby Australia’s intention, Rugby Australia acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus. Similarly, Mr Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused."

Following the agreement, which also stated "the Parties do not intend to comment further on the terms of their settlement as it is confidential", Folau and his wife Maria published a video on Folau's website thanking supporters and the Australian Christian Lobby for their "thoughts and prayers".

Commenting on the agreement, LGBTIQ rights campaigner Rodney Croome, from advocacy group just.equal, said Rugby Australia should not have had to make an apology.

Croome told the ABC "it simply applied the same codes of conduct that apply to all rugby players and should apply across all sporting codes."

Folau, a former rugby league and AFL player, last week said the Wallabies would have done better in the 2019 Rugby World Cup if he had been playing.

Image: Israel Folau playing for the NSW Waratahs.