Israel Folau: Why a destructive and divisional star could no longer be the face of rugby

OPINION: A few years ago, I was sick. Very sick. Due to a multitude of reasons, which resulted in an imminent death experience on the Kokoda trail, I suffered from a depression.

For several months, I was hospitalized, but I had a sometimes horrible experience thanks to the incredible support of my family, who faced a real hell, and a group of loyal friends and gay, heterobadual and friends, who m stuck to me. I am forever indebted to my wife, my children and wonderful colleagues.

I thought that would never happen to me. I was convinced that I was bullet proof. I am now fully recovered, I am not embarrbaded to find that for a short while, I have completely lost the plot, I am happy to talk about my experiences and I know the debilitating effects of the disorder of post-traumatic stress and depression that can strike anyone. I am convinced that I am now a much better person.

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At the clinic, I was surrounded by fascinating and sometimes desperate characters. There were a lot of scary moments. Sleep was impossible. There were also moments you will never forget. At one time, there were several homobadual and homeless transgender patients, who had suffered for far too long because they had been despised by society and branded with unnecessary bigoted views. They never felt comfortable and revealed that they often considered radical action. We were constantly in and out of this clinic. He said sadly one morning: "They make fun of me, they tell me all the time that I am nothing, when I get out of here, people try to be my friend, but all they want is is hitting me or pissing me off … me, I feel safer here. "

I will never forget this conversation. Several years later, it still upsets me. And I immediately thought about it when I was confronted with the latest acrimonious and destructive social media scraps from Israel Folau.

For a young person who is uncertain about his baduality or who feels excluded because, without any fault on his part, he is perceived as being different, being told by a community icon that "hell is waiting for you" is appalling and so dangerous. They are important people who must be embraced and not ostracized.

Thousands of people idolize Folau and will unfortunately take note of his homophobic and ignorant opinions. The argument of freedom of expression will come out, and that's fine, but there are still major repercussions if the comments are unnecessarily hurtful.

Rugby Australia was lucky, a year ago, to solve this problem, but hit Folau with a feather duster after targeting homobaduals.

As I wrote to ESPN on April 17 of last year: "Rugby Australia's weak approach of not sanctioning Folau will not see a huge problem disappear." are serious in their policy on players, supporters, coaches or administrators to feel safe, welcomed and included regardless of race, bad or baduality, they must stand up to Folau. "

A year later, Folau is again mocked by RA. This time, they responded accordingly.

I do not mind at all that his Waratahs and Wallabies contract was torn apart. He can no longer be the public face of the match. He is too divisive. Australian rugby offers much better models. Promote them now that he has moved on to something else.

Folau will probably be delighted that, according to his distorted philosophy, hell is miserable. I will do that. Raised in a cowardly family of the Church of England, I have been an atheist since the beginning of my teenage years.

I married in a big Catholic family, loving and loyal. They have always respected my points of view. I've always respected their beliefs. We got married in a Catholic church with a wonderful Jesuit priest, who happily compromised. A good example of good religion and common sense. My two children were educated in the Catholic school system – a system that I admire and recommend.

A few weeks ago, I spoke in front of the big Australian rugby nursery, St Joseph's College at Hunters Hill. I was not struck by lightning because I was a non-believer. Once again, there was mutual respect. I respect religious beliefs – to the extent that they try to embrace and encourage the love of all and not incite hatred.

Again, Folau's version of hell, surrounded by drunkards, homobaduals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters, is actually very amusing, especially if it excludes narrow sporting identities. .