It is D-Day for Israel Folau and Rugby Australia - but what will his future entail?Â
Folau arrived for the hearing in St Leonards on Sydney's North Shorearlier today, with the hearing expected to take all day and possibly drag into tomorrow.Â
Rugby Australia (RA) announced its intent to terminate Folau's employment over a breach of contract claim following an April 10 Instagram post that RA claims is a "high level" breach of the sport's "inclusiveness" commitment as outlined in the players' code of conduct, agreed to by the players' union and RA officials in the collective bargaining agreement.
According to a dramatic report in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the future of rugby in Australia could be decided if Folau is successful in his challenge of RA's move to rip up his contract.
Israel Folau arrives at Rugby HQ for a Code of Conduct hearing... it’s expected to go all day and possibly into tomorrow. @9NewsSyd @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/dT9kpPjQO9
— Lizzie Pearl (@lizziepearl) May 3, 2019
The report claims Rugby Australia is privately bracing for a $12 million financial loss for the upcoming season — pushing the code to the brink of collapsing.
RA would face "financial ruin" if it is forced to face a projected $8 million loss and pay out the full $4 million owed to Folau in his long-term contract.
According to The Australian, the legal fees and costs associated with fighting Folau in a conduct hearing and expected follow-up legal challenges through the courts will also cost RA at least $100,000.
A full $12 million hit would leave RA "on the precipice of insolvency," according to The Daily Telegraph's Jamie Pandaram.
To discuss Israel Folau, his comments and his future, The Weekend Collective were joined by Michelle Langstone to talk this and all the other issues of this week.Â
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