Israel Folau has been found guilty of a high-level breach of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct, but is yet to receive a verdict.
The landmark hearing finally concluded in the Sydney CBD on Tuesday, after being heard at Rugby Australia’s headquarters during the weekend.
Following the hearing, a three-person panel came to the decision that Folau had breached RA’s code of conduct, but did not decide on a sanction.
However, a high-level breach is the only level that would allow for a termination of Folau’s four-year, $4m contract.
Folau was stood down by Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union on 12 April. He was served a notice of termination following his latest controversial social media posts in which he targeted ‘drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators’ and warned: ‘Hell awaits you’.
His employers deemed Folau’s actions as a high-level code of conduct breach. The 30-year-old was given 48 hours to accept the sanction or have the matter referred to a code of conduct hearing, which he ultimately opted for.
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