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Israel Folau has spoken about worrying about finances "for the first time" in over a decade, while a panel decides the future of his rugby career after controversial social media posts.
- Israel Folau posted controversial statements to Instagram last month, proclaiming hell awaited certain groups
- Speaking at a church, the Wallabies player has said the resulting fallout has left him in a "really challenging" situation
- Folau is fighting a breach notice that recommended his contract be terminated
Folau said he had faced "temptations" over the past few weeks during a sermon to the Truth of Jesus Christ Church in Kenthurst, north-western Sydney on Sunday.
The Wallabies player was stood down by Rugby Australia in April, after he posted an image on Instagram, saying "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists idolaters" were going to hell.
"There's been many opportunities to be able to potentially make the situation a little bit easier," he told the congregation.
"I could probably go back and play the game, and get everything back to the way it used to be."
Last week, a three-member panel found Folau had committed a "high-level breach" of the Professional Players' Code of Conduct over the post.
"I'm at a stage at the moment — we're not finished yet — but potentially I could get terminated. Which means no more playing contract, and no more finances and money coming," he said.
Folau is fighting the breach notice that recommended his four-year, $4 million contract be terminated.
A decision has not yet been made on how he will be punished.
The 30-year-old spoke about his 13-year sporting career, which spanned three different football codes, and having to worry about finances.
"In that part of my life I've always been comfortable," he said.
"Since I was 17, God blessed me with a contract to be able to play at the highest level.
"It's the first time it's happened to me in my life and it's the first time I've been in a situation where it's been really challenging."
Rugby Australia had previously reprimanded Folau for targeting the LGBTQI community in his social media posts, warning him that it was against the values the sport's governing body stood for and telling him to cease.
Ahead of Folau's appearance at the hearing into his case that was triggered when he launched a challenge, and which concluded on Tuesday, Queensland Reds and Wallabies hooker Taniela Tupou took to Facebook to express his support for the under-fire player.
Folau, who has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies, was also backed by England star Billy Vunipola, who liked Folau's post and called for people to "live their lives how God intended".
As Folau was before the tribunal on Sunday last week for the second day of his disciplinary hearing, the congregation at his Sydney church prayed for him.
Folau's friend Evelyn Hema said the only judgment he was concerned about was God's.
"He doesn't care how he'll be persecuted in this world, where it's temporary, but it's in the afterlife when we all die," she said.
His father Eni Folau said he did not believe his son had breached his contract.
"For me and for him, we try to obey Him," Mr Folau said, pointing to the sky.
Topics: rugby-union, sport, super-rugby, community-and-society, religion-and-beliefs, australia