Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news
A fresh fundraising drive for sacked Australia fullback Israel Folau raised over A$650,000 (£355,000) in donations on Tuesday, just hours after it was launched by a Christian lobby.
Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, is seeking to raise A$3m (£1.6m) to help fund his legal action against Rugby Australia and his Super Rugby team, the New South Wales Waratahs, as he fights his termination in court.
Folau was sacked after being found guilty of a 'high-level breach' of Rugby Australia's code of conduct after he posted on social media that hell awaits 'drunks, homosexuals, adulterers' and other groups.
His initial fundraising effort on the GoFundMe website was shut down on Monday by the crowdfunding platform, which said it supported 'LGBTI inclusivity' and he had breached its terms and conditions.
Folau had generated over A$750,000 in three days on the platform but all of it would be refunded to donors, the website said on Monday.
Show all 24 1 /24Six Nations Team of the Tournament Six Nations Team of the Tournament Six Nations Team of the Tournament Click through the gallery to see who makes Jack de Menezes' Team of the Six Nations.
Getty
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 15. Liam Williams (Wales) Has claims for the player of the tournament award after a brilliant two months. Shone in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny and handled the England kicking game with ease in Cardiff. Should have scored against France but offered so much more than tries to Wales’ Grand Slam cause and is among the very best aerial footballers.
AFP/Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 14. Josh Adams (Wales) Early in his international career but has given Warren Gatland a serious selection headache if and when Halfpenny returns, as Adams deserves to be in the starting XV on this form. Tries in three consecutive matches against Italy, England and Scotland, including a moment against the Red Rose that will live long in the memory.
PA
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 13. Henry Slade (England) A breakthrough tournament for the versatile centre who finally looks to have found his place in the No 13 shirt. Glides across the field with the ball in hand and his two tries against Ireland helped England banish their Dublin hoodoo. One of the most naturally gifted players of his generation.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 12. Hadleigh Parkes (Wales) Has slotted in seamlessly into the Welsh midfield and saved his biggest impact for the Grand Slam-clinching finale – not just by scoring the first try immediately but also for his try-saving recovery tackle on Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale. Manu Tuilagi certainly impressed with five consecutive appearances and a demolition job on France and Italy, but he could not match Parkes’ defensive reliability.
Action Images via Reuters
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 11. Jonny May (England) The tournament’s top scorer brings fans to their feet whenever he receives the ball in space. Only failed to score a try in one of his five matches and bagged rapid 29-minute hat-trick against France. His relationship with Elliot Daly has been a joy to watch.
AP
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 10. Finn Russell (Scotland) Alongside Beauden Barrett as the most potent attacking threats at 10 in the world. The way he brought Scotland back into the match against England was breath-taking to watch, and he also impressed in the defeat against Wales. Missed the game against France with concussion, but you can see why Racing 92 offered him the chance to make it big in the Top 14.
Action Images via Reuters
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 9. Ben Youngs (England) The most consistent option at 9 as he became England’s most-capped scrum-half with his 85th appearance on the final weekend. Significantly improved his kicking game for the tournament and will head to the World Cup as the unrivalled No 1.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 1. Rob Evans (Wales) Decimated Tadhg Furlong on the scrum as Wales worked out the Irish pack at the set-piece, and he stood up brilliantly in his other big tests against Kyle Sinckler and WP Nel. Mako Vunipola had early claims to the spot but only played one-and-a-half games, whereas Evans is in the most sustained form of his career.
PA
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 2. Jamie George (England) Makes playing rugby look enjoyable as he does it with a smile on his face – especially when he bagged his try against Italy. Mr Reliable at the lineout throughout the tournament and probably the most mobile hooker in the Six Nations.
PA
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 3. Kyle Sinckler (England) Took a lot of unfair criticism following the Wales defeat and continues to serve an education that will do him only good moving beyond this championship. Looks for work in the back line and possesses the handling ability to warrant his roaming role.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 4. George Kruis (England) Really stepped up his game in the absence of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes and deserves a lot of plaudits for how he ran the lineout in Dublin. Scored a try as well as set one up for Brad Shields with charge-downs against Italy and can be proud of what he offered the tournament.
Action Images via Reuters
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) A leader by example and the undoubted man of the series. Knew exactly how to get into England and put them under pressure in ways they couldn’t cope, and his sheer defiance to let what looked a bad knee injury forced him off against Ireland was inspiring. Deserved to lift the trophy off a Grand Slam, and he revelled in the moment when it finally came.
AP
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 6. Josh Navidi (Wales) If Jones was the player of the series, then Navidi was the breakthrough star of the campaign. Looked at home in the No 6 shirt despite his preference to be on the openside and even got a run out at No 8 against Italy, ensuring he was one of few players to play in every match. His work-rate around the breakdown and in defence was extraordinary.
Action Images via Reuters
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 7. Tom Curry (England) Looks like the answer to England’s openside flanker search, and at just 20 years old, he could well be a long-term option at that. Picked up the first two tries of his international career against Wales and Scotland, and it was that display in a losing effort in Cardiff that really stood out.
AFP/Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 8. Billy Vunipola (England) By no means did he set the world on fire, but he was the outstanding No 8 of the championship by quite some distance. Having missed the bulk of the last two tournaments with injury, it was a welcome sight to see the powerhouse back-row out there.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 16. Ken Owens (Wales) Brilliant in the loose and would have challenged for the starting shirt if his lineout didn’t falter too often.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 17. Mako Vunipola (England) Could have been the player of the Six Nations had his tournament not ended in the second round.
REUTERS
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 18. Tomas Francis (Wales) Has well and truly usurped Samson Lee as Wales’ first-choice tighthead prop and enjoyed a very impressive campaign.
REUTERS
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 19. Cory Hill (Wales) Injury cruelly ended his participation after the halfway stage, but his impact in the victory over England cannot be ignored.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 20. Justin Tipuric (Wales) Unlucky to miss out on the starting back-row and was at his disruptive best to plot the English downfall in Cardiff.
AFP/Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 21. Antoine Dupont (France) Brought life to a dying French side and looks like a real player to watch for the future.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 22. Gareth Anscombe (Wales) Answered his critics in style after Warren Gatland put his faith in him. Twenty-point haul as Wales secured the Slam was the perfect reward.
Getty Images
Six Nations Team of the Tournament 23. Manu Tuilagi (England) How delightful was it to see him back in the England shirt and running at full tilt? Two tries against Italy and a destructive display in Dublin were reminders of why England have missed him so much.
REUTERS
A new drive hosted by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) had recouped most of those forgone funds in a few hours on Tuesday.
ACL managing director Martyn Iles said he had spoken to Folau about his case and also pledged A$100,000 for his legal action "because it's right and it sets an important legal precedent".
Folau announced earlier this month that he had begun legal proceedings against RA and the Waratahs at the Fair Work Commission (FWC), an industrial relations tribunal, casting the action as the pursuit of his 'right to religious freedom'.
Folau's four-year contract, signed late last year, was worth a reported A$5m.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies