Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 over anti‑LGBT social media posts and has since continued his career in other competitions while remaining a polarising figure in rugby and public debate.

What Happened to Israel Folau?

From Wallabies Star to Sacking

Israel Folau was one of Australia’s top rugby union players, starring for the Wallabies and the NSW Waratahs until 2019.

In April 2019, he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators” were among those for whom “hell awaits,” telling people to “repent! Only Jesus saves.”

Rugby Australia said this was a high‑level breach of its player code of conduct, which bans discrimination based on sexuality.

After a disciplinary process, Rugby Australia announced it would terminate his contract, effectively ending his Wallabies and Super Rugby career.

Legal Fight and Settlement

Folau argued he was unfairly dismissed and discriminated against because of his religious beliefs, and he took Rugby Australia to the Fair Work Commission and then towards the Federal Court.

He sought many millions in damages and his camp framed the case as a religious freedom issue, while Rugby Australia framed it as enforcing an inclusive workplace and code of conduct.

In December 2019, Folau and Rugby Australia reached a confidential mediated settlement, ending the legal dispute without a full court ruling.

Public reporting at the time noted he had originally claimed up to about 14 million Australian dollars, but the exact settlement figure was never officially disclosed.

His controversial posts also cost him commercial deals, including being dropped by sportswear company Asics, which said his comments breached their standards.

Playing On: League and Overseas Rugby

After his union sacking, Folau explored a return to rugby league, including options in English rugby league and involvement with Tonga’s rugby league program.

He later continued his professional career outside top‑tier Australian rugby, including stints with overseas clubs and in alternative competitions, effectively playing at a high level but outside the Wallabies and Super Rugby system.

By 2025, reports described him as largely erased from official Australian rugby narratives, despite his on‑field legacy, because of the ongoing backlash to his posts and the saga around his dismissal.

At the same time, some coverage noted that he remained a significant player in other contexts and retained strong support among certain religious and conservative communities.

Latest News and Recent Talk

In 2025, media reports in Australia said Folau expressed interest in returning “Down Under” to play against the British and Irish Lions as part of a trans‑Tasman invitational side.

This was framed as an attempt to “bury the hatchet” with Rugby Australia and re‑enter a major rugby occasion six years after his original exile from the Wallabies.

However, commentary also stressed that his relationship with Australian rugby remained tense and politically charged, and there was no simple path back into official Wallabies structures.

So, as of the latest reporting, he’s a veteran star still playing and talked about, but largely outside the mainstream Australian rugby setup that once made him a national headline figure.

Why It Became Such a Big Deal

Different groups see what happened to Israel Folau very differently:

  1. Free speech and religion view
    • Supporters say he was merely expressing deeply held Christian beliefs and should not have lost his job for quoting scripture, even if the message offended many.
 * They point to his legal challenge and settlement as a sign that employers need clearer limits when disciplining religious expression.
  1. Anti‑discrimination and inclusivity view
    • Critics argue that when you’re a high‑profile player under contract, speech that targets a protected group (like LGBT people) crosses a line from private belief into harmful public conduct.
 * Rugby Australia and sponsors such as Asics emphasised inclusivity and said they had to act to protect players, fans, and brand values.
  1. Rugby culture and reputation view
    • Many in the game worried about damage to rugby’s image and participation, especially for LGBTQ+ players and supporters who might feel unwelcome.
 * Others felt the entire saga overshadowed his on‑field brilliance and complicated how he will be remembered in Australian rugby history.

Quick Bullet-Point Recap

  • Star Wallabies and Waratahs fullback/utility back until 2019.
  • Posted anti‑LGBT religious messages on social media (“hell awaits” etc.).
  • Rugby Australia deemed this a high‑level code breach and terminated his contract.
  • Lost major sponsorships, including Asics.
  • Sued Rugby Australia for unfair dismissal and religious discrimination; case settled confidentially in 2019.
  • Continued playing in league/other competitions, mostly outside official Australian rugby structures.
  • In 2025, expressed interest in playing against the British & Irish Lions with a trans‑Tasman invitational team, seeking some form of reconciliation.

TL;DR: Israel Folau didn’t disappear; he was sacked from Australian rugby union for anti‑LGBT religious posts, settled a big legal fight, lost sponsors, moved his playing career elsewhere, and now sits in a strange space between brilliant ex‑Wallaby and lightning‑rod culture‑war figure.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.