Hansen praises RFU determination to boost Pleasure flag

Steve Hansen has praised the Rugby Soccer Union’s determination to boost the Pleasure flag above Twickenham on Sunday.

Folau, 34, was sacked by Rugby Australia (RA) in 2019 for making anti-gay social media posts.

“They [the RFU] wouldn’t be flying the flag if he [Folau] wasn’t [selected],” Hansen instructed BBC Sport.

“The flag is being delivered to the eye of individuals, and the attention of why it’s there may be to assist the folks which might be judged and handled poorly due to who they’re.

“They should be liked and cared for as a lot as anyone else. If all of us did that it’d be a cheerful place, wouldn’t it?

“The large lesson there may be simply deal with everybody with kindness and love.”

Hansen’s World XV meet Eddie Jones’ BaaBaas at Twickenham on Sunday, 28 Might.

The RFU will elevate the rainbow flag earlier than the match as a present of assist for the LGBTQ+ group.

As soon as one of many world’s greatest full-backs, dual-code worldwide Folau was embroiled in a prolonged dispute along with his former employers after a “high-level” breach of their code of conduct over the net posts.

His contract with Rugby Australia was ripped up in Might 2019, and he has since performed rugby league for Catalans Dragons and membership rugby union in Japan.

He has switched worldwide allegiance to Tonga and is in line to play at this 12 months’s Rugby World Cup.

Hansen, who coached New Zealand to victory on the 2015 World Cup, says he understands why Folau’s choice will “harm” some folks, however that he deserves to be concerned.

“Israel Folau is an excellent rugby participant,” stated Hansen. “He’s world class. And I do know by selecting him that there might be some folks harm -and I get that.

“Nonetheless, I would like these folks to know that Israel’s perception and views are usually not ours. And we don’t agree with them.

“However he’s a rugby participant firstly and he’s been sanctioned.

“These sanctions have completed, he’s taking part in rugby, he’s most likely going to go to the World Cup so my job is to choose the very best group I can choose and that’s what I’ve accomplished.”