Israel Folau (Merged threads)

[absentee thoughtlord 593]

I honestly think if Castleford were sponsored by Fred West Builders there would be less fuss than this.

[hunsletgreenandgold 1,228]

37 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

That’s a more credible theory than doing it for his own commercial benefit.

There isn’t anything to sue for yet but I do worry about the potential for this to affect revenue. I wouldn’t be shocked if action is taken against Catalans should there be a demonstrable hit related to the Folau signing.

That will be near on impossible to prove in a litigation battle. Sponsors walking away at clubs unrelated to Catalans will not be deemed suitable grounds and in fact they themselves should be the ones that are facing legal action. None of this will happen of course - just a man who believes in his own self importance and thinks everybody needs to hear his 2 pennies worth....and I’m not talking about Folau. 

[TBone 151]

Just now, hunsletgreenandgold said:

That will be near on impossible to prove in a litigation battle. Sponsors walking away at clubs unrelated to Catalans will not be deemed suitable grounds and in fact they themselves should be the ones that are facing legal action. None of this will happen of course - just a man who believes in his own self importance and thinks everybody needs to hear his 2 pennies worth....and I’m not talking about Folau. 

Loss might not be from a club’s sponsor - what about if BetFred pulled the plug? or mybe SLE were about to sign with Quantas?

[RL does what Sky says 1,433]

Just now, TBone said:

Loss might not be from a club’s sponsor - what about if BetFred pulled the plug? or mybe SLE were about to sign with Quantas?

If BetFred didn't pull the plug when Sonny Bill Williams refused to wear their name then it would seem a bit odd to do it for another reason.

[GUBRATS 3,141]

1 minute ago, TBone said:

Loss might not be from a club’s sponsor - what about if BetFred pulled the plug? or mybe SLE were about to sign with Quantas?

What if ? 

If any sponsors did pull out , you could argue it's because of Mr Hudgell making it an issue , this was all over and done with , now he's dragged it back up , stupid 

[TIWIT 1,270]

Folau speaks from a sincerely believed belief. However ignorant it seems to most of us that is what free speech is all about. FWIW, probably half of Amerika shares his view. It would not be such a big deal there.

As a lawyer Hudgell should be defending Folau's right to spout his ignorance in public. His own statements are just plain stupid and he should have made his objections known to Super League, his fellow SL owners and Catalans in particular with a simple phone call. And who knows, maybe he did and Catalans told him to mind his own business and that's why he went public now.

[RigbyLuger 83]

27 minutes ago, burnleywelsh said:

I wonder if Hudgell is actually aware of one of his sponsors views. Not too far away from Folau’s opinion.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9045796/Dont-legalise-gay-marriage-Archbishop-of-York-Dr-John-Sentamu-warns-David-Cameron.html

 

You can't make this stuff up.

[RigbyLuger 83]

Duplicate

Edited February 4 by RigbyLuger

[hunsletgreenandgold 1,228]

24 minutes ago, TBone said:

Loss might not be from a club’s sponsor - what about if BetFred pulled the plug? or mybe SLE were about to sign with Quantas?

Same would apply - the clubs should in that case be focusing their litigation towards Betfred. The difference with the ARU situation was it was pretty clear (rightly or wrongly) Quantas and possibly others leaned on them to take decisive action against Folau. There’s no evidence of that here so any retrospective action would be a very weak position to be starting from legally. 

[RL does what Sky says 1,433]

I think Neil Hudgell just wants to have his name made known - although I'm sure he won't be known by the one his name actually makes ....

Neil Hudgell anagram  .... I, Hull legend !  

[TBone 151]

1 minute ago, TIWIT said:

Folau speaks from a sincerely believed belief. However ignorant it seems to most of us that is what free speech is all about. FWIW, probably half of Amerika shares his view. It would not be such a big deal there.

As a lawyer Hudgell should be defending Folau's right to spout his ignorance in public. His own statements are just plain stupid and he should have made his objections known to Super League, his fellow SL owners and Catalans in particular with a simple phone call. And who knows, maybe he did and Catalans told him to mind his own business and that's why he went public now.

This isn’t about the rights or wrongs of Folau’s statements, its all about brands. At the moment, Folau’s brand isn’t exactly the flavour of the month. And major global companies have made statements distancing themselves as they don’t want their brand value diluted by association.

In answer to Gubrats. You say it was all done with, was it? How do you know what may/not be going on privately. I have no idea which, if any, existing or prospective sponsors may/not have raised the issue privately with the RFL/SLE or one or more of the other SL Clubs. Maybe Mr Hudgell does?. Or he may think that its not too late to get Catalan to reconsider so is putting a shot across their bows so to speak?

[Adelaide Tiger 1,199]

........ Shaun Kenny-Dowall.  I rest my case M’lud.

[TIWIT 1,270]

14 minutes ago, TBone said:

... I have no idea which, if any, existing or prospective sponsors may/not have raised the issue privately with the RFL/SLE or one or more of the other SL Clubs. Maybe Mr Hudgell does?. Or he may think that its not too late to get Catalan to reconsider so is putting a shot across their bows so to speak?

If a competitor made such blatant public threats against you would you back down?

[Moove 769]

1 hour ago, burnleywelsh said:

I wonder if Hudgell is actually aware of one of his sponsors views. Not too far away from Folau’s opinion.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9045796/Dont-legalise-gay-marriage-Archbishop-of-York-Dr-John-Sentamu-warns-David-Cameron.html

 

Just for clarity (before anyone gets into trouble), he's not technically the sponsor. The academy (the actual sponsor) is though funded by the Diocese of York, of which he is the head (thought he'd finished now but apparently not).

Still pretty funny.

Luckily they're not plastered on the back of one of their shirts. Oh... oops... Taxi for Hudgell...

Edited February 5 by Moove

[Omott91 718]

Hull KR are quickly becoming my favoured team to suffer relegation.

[The Great Dane 428]

1 hour ago, TIWIT said:

olau speaks from a sincerely believed belief. However ignorant it seems to most of us that is what free speech is all about. FWIW, probably half of Amerika shares his view. It would not be such a big deal there.

It's not just half of America that would agree with Falou...

The Polynesian cultures (and to a slightly lesser extent Melanesian) are extremely religious. Almost all of them are Mormon, Jehovah's  Witness, or one of the other more wacky sects, and the vast majority of them are fervent believers.

What I'm saying is that it's got to be upward of 80% of all Polynesian Rugby (plural) players that would agree with, or hold very similar views to Falou's, and simply aren't expressing those views for fear of retribution. On top of that there's a much smaller group of Muslims of the Anthony Mundine variety, which includes SBW BTW, who are just as backward if not more so on most issues.

The point I'm getting at is that continually attacking Falou for his views will ostracize the others that agree with him to an extent, and if we continue attacking when really Falou and others like him have done nothing wrong, then eventually that will have major consequences not only for both sports but for society as a whole as the people that agree with Falou's position will eventually push back against those that are trying to stop them from being able to simply express those belief's.

Edited February 5 by The Great Dane

[TIWIT 1,270]

33 minutes ago, The Great Dane said:

It's not just half of America that would agree with Falou...

The Polynesian cultures (and to a slightly lesser extent Melanesian) are extremely religious. Almost all of them are Mormon, Jehovah's  Witness, or one of the other more wacky sects, and the vast majority of them are fervent believers.

What I'm saying is that it's got to be upward of 80% of all Polynesian Rugby (plural) players that would agree with, or hold very similar views to Falou's, and simply aren't expressing those views for fear of retribution. On top of that there's a much smaller group of Muslims of the Anthony Mundine variety, which includes SBW BTW, who are just as backward if not more so on most issues.

The point I'm getting at is that continually attacking Falou for his views will ostracize the others that agree with him to an extent, and if we continue attacking when really Falou and others like him have done nothing wrong, then eventually that will have major consequences not only for both sports but for society as a whole as the people that agree with Falou's position will eventually push back against those that are trying to stop them from being able to simply express those belief's.

Your point being we should all just dicuss sports, not religion or politics.

I'm fine with that

 

[ojx 2,144]

Catalans have really shot themselves (and the sport) in the foot on this one.  Especially when they have no TV deal, they are not in the strongest position to pull a stunt like this.

[nadera78 2,108]

If I was being unkind I might say of Neil Hudgell's behaviour...'ambulance chaser looks for a payout'.

This whole situation is becoming ridiculous, and it's people like Hudgell driving it forward. Folau's been signed, some people don't like it, some support it, most I would guess are ambivalent. Time to let it go and play some rugby.

[aj1908 953]

8 hours ago, Man of Kent said:

Fair enough, really.

If sponsors do pull out or investors go cold on Super League citing the Folau signing, we’d all be saying Catalans have ruined things etc. Other clubs would be well within their rights to go after Catalans.

Whatever the whys and wherefores, Folau is toxic. 

Would they ?

Catalans haven't done anything illegal 

I doubt hull kr can sue for damages they suffer from catalans signing folau 

[Celt 751]

10 hours ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

I think he is embarrassing himself and a great club in HKR. 

Typo sorted for you.

[Man of Kent 5,686]

6 hours ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

That will be near on impossible to prove in a litigation battle. Sponsors walking away at clubs unrelated to Catalans will not be deemed suitable grounds and in fact they themselves should be the ones that are facing legal action.

What if a sponsor/potential sponsor cites Folau as a reason for withdrawing? That would be pretty good proof!

Edited February 5 by Man of Kent

[Damien 8,005]

Where does this all end?

I'm sure some high end sponsors are put off sponsoring Super League because some clubs are sponsored by gambling companies, vaping companies etc.  Can clubs sue each other for that?

If a club has crowd trouble do they get sued because of the reputational

damage to Super League?

If we have disciplinary incidents like the Ben Flower incident, should Wigan be sued if clubs don't want to be associated with a sport?

There are countless factors at play when it comes to attracting sponsors. Things like Folou are a small part of a much bigger picture. 

[aj1908 953]

Small minded thinking which is a shame as his club has potential to be a very good club.

 

[Mattrhino 1,298]

Haha a personal injury and medical negligence lawyer taking the moral high ground. Seen it all now.