Rugby: Nigel Owens' message to Israel Folau - 'Being gay is not a choice'

Welsh referee Nigel Owens wants Israel Folau to understand that being gay is not a choice after the Australian rugby star posted on social media that "gays go to hell".

Folau met with Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle and Waratahs boss Andrew Hore yesterday to discuss the fallout from Folau's controversial Instagram post.

Castle described the talks as open, calm and honest but just the start of a process, with no outcome decided and the parties to meet again.

Speaking to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Owens said he wasn't disappointed with Folau's lack of punishment but hoped that this could be a learning experience for everyone.

"This is not about disappointment in any outcomes or anything," Owens told Newstalk ZB.

"This is getting people to understand that people are entitled to their opinions but also to get people to understand when they are in a position of privilege that the way that they convey their opinions is [also] important."

Owens also said he wanted Folau and other people with his beliefs to understand that being gay is not a choice.

"Being gay is not a choice. You have a choice of whether you drink alcohol, you have a choice of what you eat, you have a choice of what you do, you have a choice of many things in life. There are very very few things where you don't have a choice and one of them is your sexuality.

"And getting people I think with the beliefs that Israel has, and he's quite entitled to his beliefs - there's no issue on my part that he has those beliefs - but in getting them to understand other people's opinions as well.

"And to understand that people like myself, we don't have a choice in being who we are and I think the key message for everybody involved is respect other people's opinion, respect people that are different, and let everybody get on with their own lives."

Folau admitted he could have conveyed his religious views on gay people in a more positive way, according to Castle.

Castle said Folau won't be asked to compromise his beliefs.

"We're proud of the fact that he's a strong believer and he's prepared to stand up for what he believes in," Castle said.

"We want athletes in our code who are prepared to do that and that's really important. But at the same time, Rugby Australia's got a policy and position of inclusion and using social media with respect.

"So that's where we shared stories, shared ideas and shared positions and both of us recognise that what we want is a situation where we use our social media platforms in a respectful and positive way."

Folau will re-consider his use of social media as the dialogue continues, Castle said.

The cross-code star comes off contract with Rugby Australia at the end of this year, and has yet to announce his intentions for 2019.