Wales legend Gareth Thomas has revealed he is “really upset” by Catalans Dragons’ decision to sign disgraced Wallabies star Israel Folau.
The fullback was dropped by the Australia after he made homophobic comments on social media in May last year.
✍ @IzzyFolau
— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) January 28, 2020
Israel Folau est un Dragon 🐲
🇫🇷 https://t.co/rKu4l0ZKFb
🇬🇧 https://t.co/k0KoKwlPSv#Dragons 🐉 pic.twitter.com/KJBOrHcwE7
He later gave a sermon where he claimed Australia’s devastating bushfires were a “little taste of God’s judgement” linked to Australia’s same-sex marriage and abortion laws.
The Northern Hemisphere-based Super League Executive Chairman Robert Elstone said the signing “lets down many people” in the sport but said he had no power to veto the signing.
Thomas, himself a former dual-code international but who made his name in rugby union, is gay and said pulled no punches with his assessment of the signing.
So Folau has joined the @SuperLeague .Really upset by this as the game, players, and fans were so good to me.All I hope is that as much as Folau wanted his right to speak, then players and fans alike are aloud their right to respond . I will never watch him🌈🏉❤️
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) January 29, 2020
“So Folau has joined the @SuperLeague. Really upset by this as the game, players, and fans were so good to me,” tweeted Thomas, who had an 18-month stint in rugby league playing for Crusaders and Wales in 2010 and 2011 after the end of his rugby union career.
“All I hope is that as much as Folau wanted his right to speak, then players and fans alike are aloud (sic) their right to respond. I will never watch him.”
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