Sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau was set to make a peace deal with Rugby Australia (RA) officials over his homophobic Instagram rant - until his father intervened.
According to a Daily Telegraph report, Folau's deeply religious father Eni told his son "You'll go to hell" if the post was removed.
Folau made worldwide headlines on April 10 for his post which said "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters" would go to hell unless they repented.
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The 30-year-old had reportedly considered deleting his infamous post to save his career after he met with Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle on April 12.
But that all changed after talking to his dad, which left RA officials no other option but to sack him and terminate his $4 million contract.
"Had he taken that step, and shown contrition, Folau would have been impossible to sack," the Telegraph reported.
"Eni told his son that if he pulled down that post, Folau would be disowning the words of the Lord, a sacrilege that would send him to hell.
"That was the clincher. Folau's mind was made up and resolute.
"He could not defy his deity and hit delete, whatever the cost, because, in Folau's mind, the cost in the afterlife would be far greater.
"So he gave up his best chance for rugby redemption."
Folau's post was considered a high-level breach of his contract but had he taken it down, the breach would have been lessened to mid-level, keeping his RA contact intact.
The former dual-code international is considering challenging his sacking in court.
Newshub.
