TOUTAI Kefu, a wonderful Wallaby in his day, would like Israel Folau, a wonderful Wallaby in his day, to play international rugby for Tonga at some point in the near future, just as the national coach openly craves the services of Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala.
In pure rugby terms, he'd be daft to want anything else. But by presenting himself as a fellow traveller on Folau's more notorious journeys into cyberspace, the World Cup-winning No.8 risks plunging the sport into a crisis it could well do without.
Folau has not played Test Union since his infamous social media post about the “hell” awaiting homosexuals – not forgetting “drunks, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators”.
This was far too rich for the blood of the Australian Rugby Union top brass, who terminated Folau's contract and went through a deeply uncomfortable legal process before reaching an out-ofcourt settlement with their star full-back.
Kefu's view of the matter is clearly different. “He's Tongan, he's a bloody good player – we're more than happy to have him,” he told a radio station in New Zealand. “We all grew up the same way. We all went to Sunday School…we certainly all support Israel and his views.”
This begs a question or two about freedom of speech and the so-called “cancel culture” – questions that governments of all descriptions are struggling to answer.
How might World Rugby, the non-governing governing body, set about solving the riddle if, as will caertainly happen, Folau's return to big-time rugby, fully supported by the Tongan hierarchy, sparks a bushfire of protest from those most deeply offended by his remarks?
You do not need to be much of a sceptic to wonder if they'll be up to the task.
