Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones was planning to advise Israel Folau to apologise over his controversial social media posts before meeting with the under-fire superstar. Folau reached out to 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Farr-Jones, a fellow committed Christian, a fortnight ago and flew back to Sydney from Adelaide to seek his counsel. "I had a lot of difficult and hard questions (for him)," Farr-Jones told Seven's Sunrise on Wednesday, the day after a code of conduct hearing found Folau had committed a "high level" breach of his Rugby Australia contract. "But after 90 minutes, I felt that I knew the man. I thought I knew the authenticity of the man and I certainly understood his beliefs." FOLAU SPEAKS: Folau breaks silence after being found guilty NEW FOCUS: Folau fighting to save his career Watch Nick Farr-Jones' Sunrise interview in the video at the top of the page. Folau took to Instagram last month to proclaim "hell awaits" for "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators" in a religiously-motivated post. Rugby Australia said it had formally warned Folau against making inflammatory social media comments last year before awarding him his new four-year, $4 million contract. But Farr-Jones said Folau disputes how strongly that message was conveyed by RA chief executive Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Castle met with Folau in London prior to November's Test against England and he was advised on writing about his beliefs in a respectful, non-offensive way, according to Farr-Jones. Israel Folau has been found guilty by an independent panel of a "high level" breach of his contract. Credit: AAP "She proposed to him, say something like 'heaven awaits those who repent from their sins'. Tip-toeing around what he said," Farr-Jones said. Folau's perceived lack of clarity on what he could and couldn't say and "loving" intentions toward sinners led to Farr-Jones changing his mind. "When I first met with him ... I was going to encourage him to say 'look, I apologise. I won't do it again and can I have another chance'," said Farr-Jones. "He doesn't believe he's done anything wrong. Israel Folau has been found guilty of a 'high level' breach. Credit: AAP "I did originally (think he should apologise) had he been told don't do this again - don't mention the word hell, for example, awaits these various groups of people," he said. "But he's saying he was never instructed that way. "He does it, I promise you, in a loving way, wanting to seek change in people. "I know a lot of people don't get it."<doc-sep>Rugby Australia has scored its first victory in the fight with Israel Folau An independent panel found the country's best player guilty of a "high level" code of conduct breach. Folau will now likely be fired, but at least one Wallabies legend believes that is the wrong result. Folau cast a smile as he walked away from that marathon hearing and maybe from rugby altogether. It's another step closer to a landmark divorce between Australian Rugby and its $4million superstar. Australian sporting pundit Robert Craddock calling the moment one of the most significant in the sporting century for Australia. "A powerhouse rugby union player, who is Australia's best player heading into a World Cup, will be banished from the game - probably for good," Craddock said on Fox Sports Australia. The panel is yet to reach a decision on whether it's right for Folau to be fired, after posting on Instagram last month that for homosexuals, "Hell awaits". But a high-level grade is the only decision severe enough for his sacking to stand. Unlike others, like Kurtley Beale, who faced the same level of breach, Folau gets no credit for contrition - standing by his Christian beliefs. But a Wallabies great believes there is a great sense of misunderstanding surrounding Folau and his beliefs. "Israel hasn't apologised and that confounds a lot of people in Rugby Australia, and a lot of the corporate sponsors and probably the public as well," Nick Farr-Jones said on Wednesday. "But he hasn't apologised because he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong."<doc-sep>Wallabies legend Nick Farr-Jones has dropped the explosive claim that Rugby Australia did not make its social media guidelines clear to fallen star Israel Folau. Rugby Australia said it had formally warned Folau against making inflammatory social media comments last year before awarding him his new four-year, $4 million contract. Folau reached out to 1991 Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Farr-Jones, a fellow committed Christian, a fortnight ago and flew back to Sydney from Adelaide to seek his counsel. Speaking on Seven’s Sunrise program, Farr-Jones said Folau disputed how strongly that message was conveyed by RA chief executive Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Live stream the 2019 Vodafone Super Rugby on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime in HD and ad-break free during play. Get your 14 day free trial > Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones holds the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Source: Getty Images “Everyone, including myself, had assumed that he was told by Rugby Australia, whether it was the chief executive Raelene Castle or coach (Michael) Cheika, ‘Do not do this again’,” Farr-Jones told Seven’s Sunrise. “But from the 90 minutes I had with Israel, and I strongly believe him, he was basically told by Cheika once, not four or five times as the coach would say in his statement. “He was basically told do it in a non offensive way. You can continue to communicate like this and communicate your faith, just do it in a respectful way. NEW PODCAST! Brumbies assistant Laurie Fisher responds to criticism over his team’s playing style while Australia under-20s coach Jason Gilmore reflects on the shutout win over New Zealand Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by CLICKING HERE “And it was the same with the chief executive. After meetings last year after the first post that seemed to offend everyone, certainly the media, he had a meeting with the chief executive, or at least the chief executive Raelene Castle came out and gave a press statement which greatly offended Israel as to the truth of that press statement.” Farr-Jones Folau was advised to express his beliefs in a respectful, non-offensive way “She proposed to him, say something like ‘heaven awaits those who repent from their sins.’ “Tip-toeing around what he said,” Farr-Jones said. MORE RUGBY NEWS THE GAME THEY PLAY IN HEAVEN: All sides of the fiery Folau debate STUNNING FALL FROM GRACE: Five key moments in Folau’s career ‘I’M AT PEACE, MATE’: Folau breaks silence after epic Jones rant Folau’s perceived lack of clarity on what he could and couldn’t say and “loving” intentions toward sinners led to Farr-Jones changing his mind on his advice to Folau. Folau took to Instagram last month to proclaim “hell awaits” for “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators” in a religiously-motivated post. “When I first met with him... I was going to encourage him to say ‘look, I apologise. I won’t do it again and can I have another chance’,” Farr-Jones said. Nick Farr-Jones speaking at a Rugby World Cup Event at Bennelong Restaurant in Sydney. Source: News Corp Australia “He doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong. “I did originally (think he should apologise) had he been told don’t do this again — don’t mention the word hell, for example, awaits these various groups of people. “But he’s saying he was never instructed that way. “He does it, I promise you, in a loving way, wanting to seek change in people. “I know a lot of people don’t get it... “I had a lot of difficult and hard questions (for him),” Farr-Jones said on Wednesday, the day after a code of conduct hearing found Folau had committed a “high level” breach of his RA contract. “But after 90 minutes, I felt that I knew the man. “I thought I knew the authenticity of the man and I certainly understood his beliefs.”<doc-sep>
Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones was planning to advise Israel Folau to apologise over his controversial social media posts before meeting with the under-fire superstar. Folau reached out to 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Farr-Jones, a fellow committed Christian, a fortnight ago and flew back to Sydney from Adelaide to seek his counsel. “I had a lot of difficult and hard questions (for him),” Farr-Jones told Seven’s Sunrise on Wednesday, the day after a code of conduct hearing found Folau had committed a “high level” breach of his Rugby Australia contract. Israel Folau (pictured left) and Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle (pictured right). (Getty Images) “But after 90 minutes, I felt that I knew the man. I thought I knew the authenticity of the man and I certainly understood his beliefs.” Folau took to Instagram last month to proclaim “hell awaits” for “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators” in a religiously-motivated post. Rugby Australia said it had formally warned Folau against making inflammatory social media comments last year before awarding him his new four-year, $4 million contract. Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones. (Getty Images) But Farr-Jones said Folau disputes how strongly that message was conveyed by RA chief executive Raelene Castle and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Castle met with Folau in London prior to November’s Test against England and he was advised on writing about his beliefs in a respectful, non-offensive way, according to Farr-Jones. “Everyone, including myself, had assumed that he was told by Rugby Australia, whether it was the chief executive Raelene Castle or coach (Michael) Cheika, ‘Do not do this again’,” he told Seven Sunrise. “But from the 90 minutes I had with Israel, and I strongly believe him, he was basically told by Cheika once, not four or five times as the coach would say in his statement. He was basically told do it in a non offensive way. You can continue to communicate like this and communicate your faith, just do it in a respectful way. “And it was the same with the chief executive. After meetings last year after the first post that seemed to offend everyone, certainly the media, he had a meeting with the chief executive, or at least the chief executive Raelene Castle came out and gave a press statement which greatly offended Israel as to the truth of that press statement.” Story continues Folau’s perceived lack of clarity on what he could and couldn’t say and “loving” intentions toward sinners led to Farr-Jones changing his mind. Israel Folau has been found guilty by an independent panel of a “high level” breach of his contract “When I first met with him … I was going to encourage him to say ‘look, I apologise. I won’t do it again and can I have another chance’,” said Farr-Jones. “He doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong. “I did originally (think he should apologise) had he been told don’t do this again – don’t mention the word hell, for example, awaits these various groups of people,” he said. “But he’s saying he was never instructed that way. “He does it, I promise you, in a loving way, wanting to seek change in people. “I know a lot of people don’t get it.”