Israel Folau

The Wallabies fullback wrote a lengthy piece on sports website Players Voice, addressing the fallout from his Instagram message and reiterating his deep religious convictions.

Folau said that in a meeting last week with RA chief executive Raelene Castle and Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore, he gave his bosses the option to sack him.

Folau replied to a comment on an Instagram post saying God's plan for gay people is "hell, unless they repent of their sins and turn to God".

Tuiloma Lina Samu says those comments are harmful for people who already deal with intolerance and rejection, based on their sexuality.

"Those words hurt and they hurt significantly especially vulnerable people who are already marginalised people, who are already rejected and ostracized by communities and families," she says.

RA chief executive Raelene Castle and Andrew Hore, the CEO of Folau's Super Rugby team New South Wales Waratahs, met with the player in Sydney on Tuesday.

The meeting was arranged after Folau, an Evangelical Christian, wrote on his Instagram page that gays would be condemned to "hell" if they failed to "repent", sparking outrage on social media and criticism from a key sponsor.

Castle said Folau acknowledged he had caused "grief to some people" but she declined to comment on whether he had agreed to tone down his views in his social media posts.

RA announced that chief executive Raelene Castle and Waratahs boss Andrew Hore would meet with Folau following a statement he made on Instagram.

Australia's highest-profile player, who is a devout Christian, sparked social media outrage on Wednesday when he said gay people were headed to "HELL ... Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God" in response to a question on Instagram.

Devout Christian Folau, who was vocal in his opposition of Australia's decision to legalise same-sex marriage last year, is already facing a social media backlash after outlining his views on Instagram.

Folau initially posted a graphic of 'God's plan', which one user replied to by asking what God's plan was for gay people?

The 29-year-old, who plays his club rugby for the Waratahs, replied: "HELL... Unless they repent their sins and turn to God."

pic.twitter.com/3mFNVjhi7l

After a 13-year international career, this campaign has a distinctly different feel about it. In her fourth Commonwealth Games, this will be the first in which she's taken the court with her new surname emblazoned across the back of her black dress, after her marriage to Australian cross-code superstar Israel Folau in November.

The 57-test veteran admits she's still coming to terms with this "weirdly" sentimental transition, despite having already debuted her new name during January's Quad Series.

The superstar fullback is off contract at the end of 2018 and even the lure of a second Rugby World Cup appearance next year may not be enough to keep Folau in the 15-man code.       

"Look, it's something I enjoyed last time around. But, in saying that, there's plenty of options on the line and, when that time comes, I'll make a decision when I'm ready," Folau said on Wednesday.     

"There's no rush. I want to make sure everything is set in position and I feel comfortable and I'll come out and make that announcement."            

Rugby World magazine released a list of their top 100 current players for 2017, with Hooper and Folau coming in at no. 8 and no. 5, respectively, behind the number one, England's Owen Farrell.

The pair are two of eight Aussies in the list, though just five of those eight played Super Rugby last year.

Flanker David Pocock, at no. 41, will be back in Australia next month after a year's sabbatical, but former Wallabies centre Matt Toomua (60) looks unlikely to play for the Wallabies again, after re-signing with Leicester until 2019.

7th Tackle can reveal Folau married his NZ-based fiancé, Maria Tutaia, yesterday. The wedding took place before a select number of guests on a private property in Kangaroo Valley, around two hours south of Sydney.

The timing of yesterday’s ceremony could not have been more ironic, given Folau’s public stance against gay marriage. The devout Mormon caused a storm last month when he tweeted his views against the law change.

Folau has topped the medal count, which is voted on by players on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test from Spring Tour to the final Bledisloe, for the third time in just five seasons in rugby, finishing with 260 votes, ahead of Kurtley Beale (166), Bernard Foley (146), Michael Hooper (142) and Sean McMahon (129)

The fullback, who is set to go on sabbatical after this weekend's Barbarians clash, was one of just four players to have won it twice before this season - alongwith George Smith, Nathan Sharpe and current skipper Michael Hooper.