Qantas slams Australian rugby star Israel Folau for 'gay hell' comments

Israel Folau has come under fire for his comments on God's plan for homosexuals. Photo / Getty Images

Rugby Australia's major sponsor is under pressure to take action after Wallabies star Israel Folau's latest controversial statement about gay people.

Australia's highest-profile player sparked social media outrage on Wednesday when he said gay people were headed to "HELL ... Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God" in response to a question on Instagram.

The governing body on Thursday said "Folau's personal beliefs do not reflect the views of Rugby Australia" as a flurry of Twitter users questioned whether Qantas - a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage - should align itself with the Wallabies and, by association, Folau.

"Rugby supports all forms of inclusion, whether its sexuality, race, or gender, which is set out in our Inclusion Policy (2014)," Rugby Australia said in a statement.

Folau deleted the post but a screenshot allowed other social media users - including the fullback's some 337,000 Instagram followers - to see the provocative exchange.

Doesn't quite fit with Israel Folau's "I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions" line from last year. pic.twitter.com/A023XnxRBd

— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) April 3, 2018

According to news.com.auy, a Qantas spokesperson told foxsports.com.au that "as a sponsor of Rugby Australia, we're supportive of their approach towards tolerance and inclusion, which aligns with our own. We've made it clear to Rugby Australia that we find the comments very disappointing".

A devout Christian, Folau served as a face of the Bingham Cup, an amateur gay rugby tournament staged in Sydney in 2014.

But he first courted controversy last year when he publicly opposed same-sex marriage.

"I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage," said the three-times John Eales Medallist as Australian rugby's test player of the year.

Folau's Super Rugby employers the NSW Waratahs consider the 29-year-old's religious beliefs his personal opinion.

But many social media users are less than pleased that "unlike Australia, Israel Folau isn't moving with the times."

Former Welsh star Gareth Thomas - professional rugby's first openly gay athlete - also took a swipe at Folau's comments.

What’s his plan for you then @IzzyFolau pic.twitter.com/tWecB6M3z4

— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) April 4, 2018

The 62-test star is off contract at the end of this year, with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika desperate to secure his attacking trump for next year's World Cup in Japan.