Israel Folau launches $14 million lawsuit against Rugby Australia
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Former Wallabies and Waratahs fullback Israel Folau has raised his compensation claim against Rugby Australia (RA) and the New South Wales Waratahs to A$14 million (7.40 million pounds) in an updated court filing.
The former Wallaby is demanding $14 million in damages from Rugby Australia and has claimed that he could have been captain of the Wallabies.
Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was previously seeking A$10 million in damages from RA and the Waratahs, who terminated his four-year contract in May after he posted an image on social media that said hell awaited homosexuals and other groups.
Folau said his contract termination will cost him $4.2 million from 2019-2022, as well as $300,000 in match payments from 2019-2021.
Lost sponsorship dollars, and the missed revenue of competing at World Cups and possibly captaining the national team were also used to justify the controversial star's new $14 million demand.
The statement said Folau’s losses and damages included “additional post-playing career monetary benefits” derived from successfully competing in two additional Rugby World Cups and “possible captainship of a trophy-winning Wallabies team”.
Folau, who has cast his legal challenge as a fight for religious freedom, is also seeking an apology from RA and the right to resume his international career.
The trial is set to begin in February if final mediation between the parties fails next month.
