Until the last few years Rugby League, throughout its history, has been a fine example of stoicism , going back to the original split, the Vichy and the ongoing interference and shunning by the RFU and others. This stoicism has long been admired by many outside the sport and manifested itself and was a part of the character of many involved within the sport and the sport itself.

It is of course a cornerstone of stoicism , and a fine trait amongst reasonable humans, that offence is only taken and not given. Therefore the current brouhaha over Mr Folau's silly comments, whilst in the employ of the Australian Rugby Union, is disappointing to say the least.

To be offended by Mr Folau you would first have to actually care what they guy has to say or opine about anything, not sure why anybody would, and secondly would actually have to believe, in the 21st century, that the silly stories of religion and a hell are in fact true, unless of course you take offence at ancient fairy tales.

The sport , if it felt necessary, should have just called his opinion for what it is, a silly , childish , unintelligent point of view. Turn it back on Mr Folau, educate any people that need it, that he is spouting nonsense. His personal views are clearly not the games views and any reasonable person can see that, including any reasonable sponsors, although quite why any sponsors of Hull KR (as Mr Hudgell seems to be the self appointed arbiter of thought crime) would withdraw their support because of the daft opinion of a player on another team in another country, expressed only to those who wish to hear or read it, whilst he was in another sport in yet another country , I am really not sure.

As many have stated, silly opinions are not in the same sphere as physical harm or other criminal offences. As far as i am aware there has been no singling out of an individual or personal insult or defamation (on Mr Folaus part anyway). There are many within the game of a religious nature who , because of their adherence to said idiocies, will share the same opinion of Folau but have not publicised it, including some very highly paid and high profile players. Are SL going to appoint a Witchfinder General (perhaps the aforesaid Mr Hudgell, employer of Joel Tomkins, Ben Cockayne, Todd Carney, Paul Cooke, Dane Tilse et al) to root out all those of bad opinions and ostracise them?

If we are going to ban people or ostracise them for daft opinions there will not be that many left on the field or off it, and of course the game would be bankrupt very quickly.

Fair play to those fans with the flags though ... I wonder where else they've campaigned or do they focus mainly on Catalan home games?

They should have been at castleford a few years ago when Gareth Thomas played against them but I don’t recall seeing them?

And does this have ANYTHING to do with Catalan signing Folau ??

Exactly, this one has run it's course now.