Rugby: Israel Folau launches legal action against Rugby Australia and Waratahs

Israel Folau has launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and the Waratahs.

Folau's lawyers said it was unlawful to terminate employment on the basis of religion under Section 772 of the Fair Work Act.

In a statement, Folau said: "No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion." Folau is seeking substantial remedies according to his lawyers.

Folau had his $4 million contract with the RA terminated following a series of social media posts, including an Instagram post in April that condemned drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters to hell.

The 30-year-old, who has refused to remove the offensive posts, had his contract torn up after being found guilty of a high-level breach of the organisation's code of conduct.

Folau decided not to appeal through RA's internal channels, saying that he feared he would receive unfair treatment during the process.

The Australian Financial Review reported yesterday that the former Wallabies star hired commercial law firm Macpherson Kelley.

The firm's head of employment George Haros said they believe Rugby Australia acted "unlawfully".

"We believe Rugby Australia and the Waratahs have acted unfairly and unlawfully in their treatment of Israel," Haros told the AFR.

Haros will work closely with Melbourne-based silk Stuart Wood QC, a leading lawyer in unlawful termination cases where free speech is a central issue, the AFR reported.

The Fair Work Act protects employees from unlawful dismissal on religious grounds.