Israel Folau

With the rugby future of incumbent test fullback Folau in doubt as he awaits his code of conduct hearing, utility Beale has been challenged to showcase his skills at the back for the rest of the Super Rugby season.

He will start there in the Waratahs' crucial clash with Australian conference leaders Melbourne Rebels at the SCG on Saturday.

It's a familiar job for Beale, who made his name in international rugby as fullback, earning nomination for World Player of the Year in 2010 and playing the 2011 World Cup there before becoming the regular inside centre.

Folau has found few supporters in the rugby community after attacking gay and transgender people on social media last week, which led to Rugby Australia terminating his $4 million contract, pending an upcoming hearing.

Folau confirmed to RA on Wednesday that he wanted a hearing to fight his dismissal, rather than accepting his fate; though his place in Australian rugby appears untenable whatever the outcome.

Genia followed Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in saying that he did not expect Folau to play for Australia again.

Folau has been given a breach of contract notice by Rugby Australia and told to attend a please explain meeting following last week's social media post that has been widely condemned. England club Saracens and their national union have also disciplined Billy Vunipola for supporting Folau.

"We are really pleased with how quickly the unions responded," International Gay Rugby chairman Ben Owen told The Guardian.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says Israel Folau's "disrespectful" comments would currently make it impossible to pick the superstar for Australia at this year's Rugby World Cup.

Folau remains stood down by Rugby Australia over his latest social media tirade, which proclaimed homosexuals, drunks and atheists would go to hell unless they repented.

"Getting out in that disrespectful manner publicly is not what our team's about," Cheika said on Monday.

The Wallabies fullback and his star netballer wife Maria joined their regular service for the Truth Of Jesus Christ Church at Kenthurst.

During a warm-hearted two-hour service that started with a pastor welcoming "our Tongan brothers and sisters", our guests from The Sydney Morning Herald and "Izzy and Maria", the tight-knit community rallied around their most famous member with support for what one speaker called his "boldness to stand true to his word".

There were multiple references to Folau being "persecuted" for his beliefs in the Lord's teachings.

Maria's husband, Israel, is set to have his contract terminated by Rugby Australia for his latest homophobic and transphobic outburst.

He hasn't made any further comments since the reaction to his Twitter and Instagram posts, while Maria has also stayed away from social media.

But given couple's high profile, it has put the spotlight on Maria and how this could impact her netball career, both with the Thunderbirds who begin their season on April 28 and the Silver Ferns.

Hours after Rugby Australia ripped up Folau's contract, Australian Rugby League chairman Peter Beattie made it clear to the Sydney Morning Herald that the former Melbourne and Broncos star would have to continue his career elsewhere.

"Israel Folau doesn't pass our inclusiveness culture, which is a policy strongly supported by the ARLC," Beattie said.

Ardern was asked at a press conference on Thursday about Folau's posts which were quickly condemned by his employer Rugby Australia.

"Obviously at a personal level I clearly don't agree with what he said, and [I'm] very mindful of the fact that he is for many a role model. He's a person in a position of influence and I think that with that comes responsibility," Ardern said.

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia's top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to "hell" if they failed to "repent".

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

Now it's potentially double trouble for the bottom-placed and soon-to-be-extinct Sunwolves, with Folau's younger brother John in line to make his NSW Waratahs debut at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium.

John Folau, in his maiden season at the Waratahs after switching codes from rugby league, was promoted to the bench on Thursday after winger Curtis Rona was ruled out with a groin injury.

While Alex Newsome will start as Rona's replacement, the 24-year-old Folau is almost certain to be unleashed on the Sunwolves at some point in the second half.