Folau 'anti-gay' hearing begins in Sydney

Israel Folau is presently facing a code of conduct hearing that could end his Australian rugby career [Courtesy]

A divisive code of conduct hearing kicked off Saturday as Israel Folau challenged Rugby Australia's intention to tear up his lucrative contract over homophobic comments, with experts warning of a protracted legal battle.

The devoutly religious Folau was informed last month of plans to terminate his multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal after he posted on social media that "hell awaits" gay people.

It followed a similar row last year when he escaped with a warning.

This time Rugby Australia and the NSW Rugby Union made clear they have had enough, issuing him with a "high-level" breach notice under the player code of conduct.

Super Rugby's all-time record try scorer and one of the sport's highest-profile players opted to challenge it through a tribunal.

The hearing started in Sydney with Folau and Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle making no comment as they entered.

Sunday has been reserved as an extra day should it be needed.

Submissions and evidence from both sides will be heard behind closed doors by a three-member panel chaired by John West, an employment law expert and senior counsel.

It will then decide what punishment, if any, is appropriate -- ranging from a fine to a suspension or the sack.

Either way, Rugby Australia has said a decision is not expected this weekend.

Legal experts said the case would almost certainly go to an appeal whichever way it went, and then potentially to the courts for a lengthy, and costly, fight that could set a precedent for how much control sporting bodies have over athletes' public pronouncements

Giuseppe Carabetta, an employment law expert at the University of Sydney's Business School, described the case as a "perfect storm of conflicting religious, corporate sponsorship and moral issues".

"The Folau case may eventually involve not only RA's code of conduct but also aspects of contract law, anti-discrimination laws and employee rights under the Fair Work Act," said Carabetta.

"The case may well have a very long way to run."

Folau is set to argue that Rugby Australia did not include a specific social media clause in the four-year contract he signed in February and his posts were merely passages from the Bible and not directly his words.

The governing body is expected to counter that even if there is no clause, he seriously breached its broader code of conduct policy and its inclusion policy.

The player is likely to argue that rugby's "inclusion for all" should also take into account strong religious beliefs.

The controversy has overshadowed Australia's World Cup preparations, with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika vowing not to select Folau over his "disrespectful" comments.

Others in the Wallabies camp have also criticised Folau but some, particularly from Pacific Islands backgrounds, have reportedly been angered because they feel their religion is under attack.