A mother of a gay teenager has praised Alan Quinlan for calling out rugby star Israel Folau for vile homophobic comments.
Australian international Folau was heavily criticised last week after posting a photo on Instagram with the message: "Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves."
Folau's remarks look set to see his contract terminated by Rugby Australia and former Munster star Quinlan blasted the Aussie winger.
Quinlan said: "Who the hell is Israel Folau to tell people that they're going to hell, just because he believes it because he's read it in a book somewhere.
"It's absolute b*******.
"Telling people they're going to hell for all these sins. It's not his job to start preaching all that rubbish.
"Freedom of speech and all that is fine, but if you're employed by someone and you're representing not only his own people in Australia, but essentially representing everyone who plays the code of rugby union ... [I just think] 99.9% of people in rugby would call this discrimination.
"If you believe that fine, but shut your bloody mouth and don't use a massive social media platform [you have] because he's an international sportsperson."
He added on Off the Ball: "I just want to say, whether my voice has any meaning to anybody out there struggling with their sexuality, don't believe the bullshit that Israel Folau has put on a social media post."
And Quinlan has revealed that his comments struck a chord with a mother whose teenage son is gay.
The 44-year-old shared the message he received from the mother on Twitter.
It read: "Could you please tell Alan Quinlan that I listened to him discussing the recent homophobic comments by high profile rugby players and want to say his positive words made a big impression on me and even made me cry.
"My teenage son is gay and is the most precious thing to me. It is hard as a mother to hear all the awful things people say about gay people when you know what a good soul your child is.
"A heartfelt thank you Alan."
It comes as England rugby player Billy Vunipola has been axed by Channel 4 from its Champions Cup coverage after appearing to support Folau's homophobic outburst.
Vunipola has defended himself for 'liking' the discriminatory comments but has got himself into deeper trouble.
He said on social media: "So this morning I got 3 phone calls from people telling me to "unlike" the Israel Folau post.
"He (Folau) is saying how we live our lives needs to be closer to how God intended them to be.
"Man was made for woman to pro create that was the goal no? I don't HATE anyone neither do I think I'm perfect.
"There just comes a point when you insult what I grew up believing in that you just say enough is enough, what he's saying isn't that he doesn't like or love those people."
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