Israel Folau's legal team 'very pleased' with directions hearing

Reuters - Israel Folau's unfair dismissal case against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs will head to trial in February 2020 if no settlement is reached beforehand, a directions hearing heard on Tuesday (August 13). Outside the court in Melbourne, Folau's legal team said they were 'very pleased' with the orders and were looking forward to an expedited hearing. Fundamentalist Christian, Folau, is fighting the termination of his four-year contract in May after he posted a meme on social media that said hell awaited 'drunks, homosexuals, adulterers' and other groups. Chief judge Will Alstergren, during the hearing, encouraged the parties to settle their dispute through mediation on Dec. 13. Should mediation fail, the case would proceed to trial on Feb. 4, 2020.