Rugby Australia

Folau, a devout Christian, had his contract terminated by RA and the Waratahs for a "high-level breach" after he posted "hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters" on Instagram.

RA and Folau failed to reach a settlement in June over the full-back's sacking and an unfair dismissal case began in court on Tuesday.

Solicitor George Haros, representing Folau, said his client is "extremely strong" and is keen for an apology as he addressed the media outside court.

On the same day that the former Wallaby's Instagram and Twitter pagesdisappeared for up to four hours, Folau's former employer filed an application in the Federal Circuit Court to have the high profile case moved.

The organisation was not immediately available for comment, but the development could be interpreted as a legal strategy to slow proceedings.

As the "little sister" to the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit Court has a track record of moving cases through quicker than its federally-based siblings and at a lower cost.

Veterans Nic White, Christian Lealiifano and James O'Connor will suit up against the All Blacks in Perth tonight after long absences, and Hooper says it's stoked the fire to break the 17-year trophy drought.

Inspirational five-eighth Lealiifano hasn't played in a trans-Tasman duel since 2013, and has subsequently battled leukaemia.

Hooper said the Brumbies playmaker would bring a cool head to the cauldron of the clash.

Mr Folau worked as a tutor and boarding house supervisor at St Gregory's College at Campbelltown. He was also an alumnus of the school, who finished eighth in the state in religious studies in the 2016 Higher School Certificate.

A staff member confirmed the decision on Thursday. The school's decision came after the Sydney Morning Herald revealed Josiah's involvement in the 30-member Jesus Christ Church founded by his uncle, Israel Folau's father, Pastor Eni.

The church preaches that any Christian who is not "born again" will go to hell.

Folau, 30, is suing RA and the NSW Waratahs for unlawful termination under the Fair Work Act, arguing RA tore up his four-year, multimillion-dollar contract was torn up because of his religion.

His legal team, led by Melbourne lawyer George Haros, filed the claim in the Federal Circuit Court late on Wednesday, after mediation failed before the Fair Work Commission in June.

The development has raised the prospect of a directions hearing taking place while Australia is in the thick of a tough World Cup campaign in Japan.

The decision comes after the former Wallaby and RA failed to reach an agreement at a mediation hearing at the Fair Work Commission on June 28.

"Unfortunately, our conciliation before the Fair Work Commission did not resolve the matters between us and I have been left with no choice but to commence court action," Folau said in a statement on Thursday.

O'Connor was given the chance after winger Marika Koroibete was allowed to remain in Melbourne for the imminent birth of his second child.

Rugby Australia says O'Connor, who wants to return ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup, will join the squad on a train-on basis only.

It's understood 29-year-old O'Connor's contract talks with the Queensland Reds are progressing well and a deal is likely before the opening Rugby Championship test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday week.

As Folau buries himself into fighting his sacking by Rugby Australia for airing his forthright religious views, including condemning gays to hell, it seems he is growing increasingly distant from those he used to rub shoulders with.

They believe his new entourage – which The Australian newspaper labelled "the merry band of preachers, spinmeisters, lawyers and advisers" – are taking things to a new level.

FitzSimons - now a Sydney Morning Herald columnist and prominent broadcaster – gave Folau a spray on Nine's Sports Sunday television show.

He was incensed at Folau's assertion that he wanted an apology from Rugby Australia (RA) and an admission that they were wrong to sack him for posting on Instagram that homosexuals, among others, were headed for hell unless they repented.

FitzSimons' outburst was unleashed during his Sports Sunday appearance.

"Camera one on me," he said. Israel Folau and your demand for an apology… mate, bring it in tight.

The former Wallabies full-back had his contract terminated following an investigation into an offensive social media post in April.

Folau, a devout Christian, uploaded an image to Instagram that said "hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators".

The 30-year-old had been warned for similar comments last year and was this time found guilty of a "high-level breach" of the governing body's code of conduct.