Controversial former Wallaby Israel Folau has drawn criticism for refusing to take a knee in the lead-up to Sunday’s Super League opener between the Catalans Dragons and St Helens at Headingley.
Before the rugby league match between Folau’s Dragons and St Helens, officials and players from both sides, as well as the referee, knelt in a show of support for the social justice movement, Black Lives Matter.
But Folau, who signed a one-year contract extension with Catalans last month, did not take part in the pre-match gesture and was the only player who remained standing as others around him dropped on one knee.
Folau reverted back to playing league at the start of this year in the wake of his sacking by Rugby Australia for posting homophobic comments on social media.
St Helens and Catalans players take the knee before kick-off: but noticeably Israel Folau did NOT join the rest of the players in doing so. Wow. pic.twitter.com/kK0c8tPW7d
— Aaron Bower (@AaronBower) August 2, 2020
