The Australian star is hoping to raise three million dollars, having already paid $100,000 of his own money on the internal battle with Rugby Australia.

At the time of writing, after just two days, Folau has already raised around $500,000.

Coinciding with the fundraising campaign, Folau has also given his first interview since he was sacked.

He told Sydney’s 2GB that he stood by his Instagram post which said that ‘hell awaits’ sinners including adulterers and homosexuals.

“My faith is what defines me as a person, it’s who I am and it’s why I wanted to stand up and fight [the decision].

“My identity is found in what’s written in what I call the word of God.”

Folau also said he’s forgiven team mates who’ve spoken out against him.

“Whether or not that was what they really meant, I don’t take anything personally and I have no harsh feelings towards them,” he said.

“If I do carry any hate or any judgmental feelings towards them then I’m going against the very thing I believe in.”

The debate over whether Folau was right to post the message online has split opinion across Australia.

Churches have fallen on both sides of the divide.

One Anglican priest says he’s received a death threat after putting up a sign outside his church which directly addressed the LGBT community saying “Folau is wrong – don’t listen to him”.

#israelfolau is…

Fatal stabbings in England and Wales reached record levels last year, as the number of young people killed by knives rose by nearly 50 per cent according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Church of England has placed knife crime at the top of the agenda as it gathers for the General Synod next month.

Rev Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, a priest in Angell Town, south London will submit a motion, calling on local parishes to provide after school safe havens in an effort to combat youth violence across the country.

Speaking to Premier, she said: “In almost every area of England, there is a parish church.

“So a simple suggestion is that during the hours between three and seven, when situations might occur for young people, is it possible to have buildings open and to have them flag that as being open as places of welcoming and sanctuary for young people.”

She added that the Anglican Church should be working together with local authorities to provide support: “It is not a simple problem of violence or criminality. It’s a whole public health model, where we have to look at schools and exclusions where we have to look at family related issues, increasing levels of gang activity and violence as well.”

“If we can work within our schools to bring exclusions down, to stop off rolling as much as possible, and to find solutions within the school for the challenges that…