"The game is inclusive": Rugby boss's powerful statement on Israel Folau
On his second day as chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys slammed Israel Folau in a statement on inclusiveness in rugby league.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, V’landys said the NRL will not be reopening its doors to Folau after the footballer shared anti-gay comments on social media earlier this year.
“The game is inclusive. The comments of Israel are not inclusive,” V’landys said.
“Israel has to understand he is a role model. As a role model, he has a duty. When I was at school and kids used to get bashed up because they were different, I used to go and defend them. I have no tolerance for people who put other people’s lives into violence or whatever.
“With due respect to Israel, young kids listen to it. He is a role model. They act on it … Rugby league is inclusive. So I am not in any which way reversing or looking at the decision of Israel Folau.”
V’landys, who migrated to Australia with his family as a four-year-old from Greece, said he could have ended up in jail without the inclusivity of rugby league.
“I came out here as a four-year-old migrant, stayed in Wollongong and went to school and I was very isolated. Didn’t know anyone, couldn’t speak any English,” he said.
“The only way that I was able to be a part of the community was to play rugby league and that’s the sole reason I’m on this commission, is I want to repay the debt that rugby league gave me in my life because without rugby league, I could be in jail.
“I could be anywhere because it set my path in life forward because I was accepted and included as an Australian.
“I think we need to be more inclusive and I think the greatest asset our game has is it is very inclusive. We need to attract the Asian communities and the new communities.”
In May, Folau’s contract was terminated due to a breach of the players’ code of conduct after the Wallabies star shared Instagram posts saying hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and others.
V’landys took up the role of ARLC chairman on October 30 after being unanimously elected to the position, replacing Peter Beattie. V’landys also maintains his role as the chief executive of Racing NSW.
“I’m not delusional, I think rugby league is going to be hard,” V’landys told The Australian. “And there’s just as many self-interest groups as there are in racing. As long as people don’t get personal and as long as people knock me for my decisions and not my personality, then I’ll be OK.”