'I would hate to think Izzy is a liar because we know what happens to them'

A former club and country team-mate of Israel Folau has issued a stinging put-down following the full-back’s decision to challenge his attempted sacking by Rugby Australia.

Now a pundit on Fox Sports, Drew Mitchell has all but called his former Australia and NSW Waratahs colleague a hypocrite, posting on Twitter Folau’s comments from last year saying he would walk away from the game if Rugby Australia found his position untenable.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported how Mitchell highlighted a 2018 first-person piece in which Folau said he would walk away from his contract if Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle believed the situation couldn't be worked through. He then commented: "When words and actions aren't aligned.

"The fact [RA] intend to terminate [Folau's] contract would suggest it's become untenable. I would hate to think Izzy is a liar because we know what happens to them…"

Mitchell’s tweet was posted in response to the development that Folau would challenge Rugby Australia's attempts to sack him, via a code of conduct hearing in coming weeks.

Folau responded to RA's breach of contract notice on Wednesday, sending the matter to a three-person hearing that is likely to be delayed by the Easter and Anzac Day public holidays until the week of April 29.

It was last Thursday when RA first announced its intention to sack the three-times John Eales Medal winner after Folau made public two religious posts attacking, among others, gay and transgender people.

"Israel has responded formally today to request a code of conduct hearing which, under the circumstances, was not an unexpected outcome," said Castle. "We will now work to confirm a date for the hearing as soon as possible.

"After the date for the hearing is confirmed, Rugby Australia and the NSW Rugby Union will make no further comment on the matter until the code of conduct process has concluded.”