Rugby Australia and Israel Folau have failed to reach an agreement over the ex-Wallaby’s sacking after a nearly four-hour meeting, with the dispute now destined for court.

Representatives from both parties met at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney on Friday for a mediation hearing – the first formal step in the dispute.

“We are disappointed that we were unable to reach a settlement with Rugby Australia today,” one of Folau’s lawyers told reporters.

“It appears as though that unless things change, we’ll be heading to court.”

Folau said he was “very disappointed with the outcome”.

“But I’d like to thank all those that have supported me throughout this time. I will continue to stand up for the freedoms of all Australians,” he said.

Folau had been hoping RA would apologise for terminating his multi-million dollar contract over a social media post in April and acknowledge that his sacking was a mistake.

‘We’re praying for you’

Rugby Australia has denied it offered Israel Folau money to take down a social media post that led to his sacking, ahead of a crucial meeting between the two parties before the workplace umpire.

The ex-Wallaby was swamped by media when he arrived at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney on Friday for the meeting with RA – the first formal step in his unfair dismissal case.

Asked what he wanted out of the closed conciliation, the 30-year-old committed Christian told reporters: “Hopefully an apology from Rugby Australia. That would be great.”

Folau shook hands and thanked a supporter, who said “God go with you brother … we’re praying for you”.

RA tore up Folau’s multi-million dollar contract after taking issue with a social media post in April that was condemned as homophobic.

Folau had paraphrased a Bible passage saying “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” would go to hell unless they repented.

He argues he was unfairly dismissed on religious grounds.

Folau is seeking $10 million in damages from RA and wants his multimillion-dollar contract reinstated.

In a video posted on his website before Friday’s meeting, Folau said he hoped RA would accept his termination was unlawful and reach an agreement about how to fix the “mistake”.

“First and foremost, I am hoping for an apology from Rugby Australia and an acknowledgement that even if they disagree with my views, that I should be free to peacefully express my religious beliefs without fear of retribution or exclusion,” he said.

Folau claimed on Thursday RA had offered him money to remove the post at the centre of the dispute and he had declined because sharing the Bible was one of his duties as a Christian.

“I couldn’t do that … I couldn’t live with that,” Folau said.

“It certainly comes from a place of love and it’s nothing personal.”

But RA says Folau’s claim is “completely untrue” and it never offered him money to remove the posts.

Campaign paused

On Thursday, a campaign to support Folau’s legal stoush with Rugby Australia was paused since donations topped $2 million.

More than 20,000 people have donated more than $2.2 million to help fund Folau’s legal battle via a campaign page set up by the Australian Christian Lobby.

The ACL effort replaced an earlier campaign on GoFundMe that was taken down by the platform for breaching its service guidelines.

“I want to thank you all for your prayers and your support. You have made it possible for me to stand up for every Australian of faith,” Folau said.

“I know we are strong enough to tolerate different views without firing people from their jobs for expressing religious beliefs that not everybody agrees with.”

In an interview with Sky News Australia’s weekly news and commentary program Jones & Co, the ex-Wallaby told hosts Alan Jones and Peta Credlin that sharing the Bible’s passages is part of his duty as a Christian.

“I couldn’t do that as a person that’s convicted by my faith. I couldn’t live with that,” Folau said.

“It certainly comes from a place of love and it’s nothing personal.”

Mr Jones asked Folau if he ever agreed with Rugby Australia that he should not have posted the homophobic comment on social media.

“No, I didn’t,” Folau replied.

Mr Jones asked if the organisation asked him to remove it, and Folau answered: “Yes”. 

“Did they offer money if you removed it?”, Mr Jones pressed. 

“Yes,” Folau said. 

“[I felt] backed into a corner.”

In response, the rugby organisation said: “any suggestion that Rugby Australia offered Israel Folau money to remove a post made on April 10, 2019, is completely untrue.”

When Mr Jones asked what he thought about people being personally hurt by his views, the former fullback said he could “see it from both sides”.

“If I had a child that was a drug addict, I would certainly still love my child without anything attached to that,” he said.

“It’s something that I’m trying to share in love and that’s the way I look at it in terms of sharing the Bible and the passages with my fellow men each day.”

Folau said he had many Pacific Island teammates who supported him because they shared the same beliefs. He also said his former teammates who have spoken out against him were entitled to their own opinions. 

Mr Jones said there were footballers who had committed violent acts and been involved in domestic violence incidents but Folau had “quoted the world’s most read book and was banned for life”. 

“All the terrible things people have said about this man don’t add up when you watch the way he speaks and expresses his faith,” he concluded on the show. 

– With AAP