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Folau's legal bill may mounting by the day

3 minute read

Apart from the emotional toll, Israel Folau could be taking a heavy financial hit as he fights to save his Australian rugby career.

ISRAEL FOLAU of the Waratahs watches on during the Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Stormers at Allianz Stadium Sydney,Australia.
ISRAEL FOLAU of the Waratahs watches on during the Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and the Stormers at Allianz Stadium Sydney,Australia. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The hits keep coming for Israel Folau, with ASICS ditching the fallen Wallabies superstar as an ambassador.

The footwear giant said they could no longer sponsor Folau because their values "no longer align".

"ASICS is dedicated to sport and its healthy contribution to society. We believe sport is for everyone and we champion inclusivity and diversity," the company said in a statement.

Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones earlier on Wednesday claimed Folau was "at peace" as he weighed up the potentially crippling cost of his bitter legal battle with Rugby Australia.

Folau is awaiting sanctioning after an independent panel on Tuesday found him guilty of a "high level" breach of his contract for his controversial social media posts.

Should the panel choose the most severe level of punishment in their power and terminate his four-year, $4 million contract, it's expected the dual international will appeal.

But with insiders estimating Folau would have already outlaid in excess of $100,000 on legal representation for his landmark code of conduct hearing, the three-time John Eales Medallist may at some point ask himself if it is all worth it.

It's been suggested Folau would be spending $25,000 a week on solicitor fees, even before stepping inside a hearing room.

Should Folau be sacked, then lose an appeal and take the matter to court, the financial cost could be astronomical.

The best the 73-Test veteran can hope for is leniency from the panel and a suspension and/or fine, for taking to Instagram last month to proclaim hell awaits "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators" unless they repent and turn to Jesus.

Regardless of the sanction, which is not expected to be handed down for several days, Folau is said to be handling the threat of termination with dignity.

"I've just had a note form Israel, he won't mind if I'm sharing it with you because I said to him, 'Hold your head up'," former Wallabies coach Alan Jones said on 2GB radio on Wednesday.

"He said: 'Alan, I'm at peace, mate. My head is held high'."

Folau's playing fate rests in the hands of John West QC, Rugby Australia representative Kate Eastman SC and the RUPA-appointed John Boultbee.

Having pursued termination since Folau sparked a firestorm with his latest posts, a year after being warned for similar offences, RA will argue they have no option but to proceed with his sacking given his vilification of the gay community - among other alleged "sinners" - and the damage he has caused the game.

Had the panel deemed Folau's breach of RA's players' code of conduct anything less than "high level", the governing body would not have had the power to boot the devout Christian out of the game.

Jones, for one, is urging Folau to "take this fight every inch of the way" after sitting down with the fallen star last week.

"We sat down the other day and had a long yarn. In many ways it was very, very sad," Jones said.

"We were having a feed ... and at one point he just threw his hands gently up in the air and he said: 'Alan, I don't know what this is about. What am I supposed to have done here'?'

"It will go to the highest court in the land if it has to ... the battle has just begun."

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