Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says the club hasn't made any plans for the possibility of Israel Folau being allowed to return to the Waratahs with a verdict on his future to be handed down this week.
A verdict on Folau’s future in rugby is expected to be made public later this week and whichever way the decision goes, there are avenues for either side to appeal within 72 hours of the decision.
An independent three-person panel deemed last week that Folau had committed a high-level breach, leaving the possibility of contract termination open.
There is no direct precedent for a high-level breach, with the language around Code of Conduct breaches changing after the last broadcast deal, but Kurtley Beale was handed a back-dated suspension and a $45,000 fine for a “serious” breach back in 2014.
Given he had already been stood down for a number of weeks, Beale was free to join the Wallabies on their Spring Tour that season.
Gibson said he hadn’t planned for the possibility of Folau being cleared to return to the team, however unlikely it might seem.
“That's very hypothetical and until we learn that fate we'll cross that bridge when we get to it,” he said.
“We’re still following it and it’s in progress.
“It’s a difficult one.
“We’re no different to all the opinions in society. We’re a team and have very diverse opinions on where we sit on everything.
“[It is about] managing that dynamic and the opportunity is for us to come together over a common purpose and that’s what we’ve done.”
Whatever the possibility, Gibson lamented the chance that the career of one of Australia's most talented players could be over.
"Obviously I think he's an incredible talent," he said.
"I think that's probably what's been lost in this is the fact is potentially he's going to be lost to the code."
The Waratahs coach has said a number of times that there is still plenty of "love" for his star fullback, who is a close friend and has been a long-time teammate of many of his squad.
“Israel is still a teammate and we still care for him and that will continue,” he said.
“There is still a range of options still on the table for him and we’ll learn his fate this week.”
The Waratahs have won just one of their four matches since Folau was stood down for a controversial social media post that said, "hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators".
Gibson said Folau’s absence was no excuse for the side, who now sit seven points adrift of the Brumbies at the top of the Australian conference.
“We’re never going to use that as an excuse for our performance and if you look at our performances it’s not because of Israel – our various issues are there to see,” he said.
“There is technical and tactical things that are going on.”
The Waratahs take on the Reds on Saturday May 18 at Suncorp Stadium, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
