Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has denied a report claiming that the settlement figure reached with Israel Folau is A$8 million.
The controversial former Wallabies star and Rugby Australia have finally settled their legal dispute after reaching a non-disclosed agreement as announced on Wednesday.
Folau immediately released a video in which he thanked his financial backers and supporters, while also saying he can now move on with his life because he has been ‘vindicated’.
The video sparked rumours that RA succumbed to the ongoing pressure, with The Daily Telegraph going as far as to report that governing body backed out of a possible court case and opted to pay Folau a large sum – believed to be A$8m – to bring an end to the long-standing saga.
However, Castle has come forward on social media to deny the report.
‘Folau settlement numbers are confidential but numbers being speculated are wildly inaccurate,’ she wrote.
Folau settlement numbers are confidential but numbers being speculated are wildly inaccurate
— Raelene Castle (@raelenecastle) December 4, 2019
She further explained that RA ‘didn’t back down’ and that the organisation stood by its decision to terminate his contract.
‘We had to make a decision that was right for rugby in this country. We made the right decision in calling out Israel on his posts and his inappropriate messaging.
‘So we made a decision that gave us cost certainty that put us in the best financial decision entering the new year in a positive way.’
Photo: Don Arnold/Getty Images
