Israel Folau has once again pushed the boundaries with his employers after posting a link to a Christian video that warns against "tolerance" of same-sex marriage and carries numerous anti-gay overtones.
The video, which features an 11-minute sermon by late American evangelist David Wilkerson, also features footage of protesters with rainbow flags as Wilkerson warns that we live in a time of "sexual perversions beyond description".
Controversial: Israel Folau has posted a social media link to a sermon.
Early on Tuesday, Folau tweeted: "With great love, I wanted to share this video in the hope that people watch it and think about it. Jesus is coming back soon and he wants us to turn to him through repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) please don't harden your heart."
The video is called "It's time to get right with God" and features Wilkerson's fire-and-brimstone sermon. Wilkerson, who died in a car crash in 2011, had long preached about homosexuality as an abomination.
Folau has only just emerged from a social media scandal in which he suggested gay people would go to hell unless they repented their sins. That comment was made in a reply on an instagram post.
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A meeting with Rugby Australia would lead to no punishment but an apparent understanding of his role in the code and his responsibilities under RA's inclusion policy. Major sponsors including Qantas also raised concerns over his actions.
Soon after, Folau took to a website to expand on his views and take a swipe at RA chief executive Raelene Castle, saying it was his belief that she had misrepresented his position.
"I believe that it is a loving gesture to share passages from the Bible with others. I do it all the time when people ask me questions about my faith or things relating to their lives, whether that's in-person or on my social media accounts," he wrote.
Castle had urged Folau to use social media in a positive manner and had hoped for a good working relationship in the future.
"We want athletes in our code that are prepared to do that and thats really important, but at the same time Rugby Australia has also got a policy and position of inclusion and using social media with respect," Castle said.
"Both of us are going to go away and continue that dialogue and work through how we continue to use our social media platforms in a way that can ensure that our stakeholders are respected."
It now appears Folau simply will not be silenced. Rugby Australia did not respond to repeated calls from Fairfax Media by late Tuesday, while Folau was rumoured to be in talks with the Quensland Reds for a potential move from the Waratahs.
Should he remain in Australia, Folau continues to be an ongoing issue for the game's powerbrokers, who must juggle the happiness of financial backers with the divisive preaching of their biggest star.
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