Canterbury fullback Will Hopoate has admitted that in a "perfect world" he wouldn't play NRL games on a Sunday.

Hopoate is passionately religious and regularly attends church every Sunday before NRL games.

The 27-year old was tight lipped when asked about Israel Folau's sacking from rugby union for making religious posts on social media.

“I’d rather not comment on that, if that’s all right,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “I’ll just leave it how it is.

"I don’t want to say something that might put me in trouble.”

Ultimately, Hopoate conceded that his job involves working on a Sunday to "help provide for my family."

“In a perfect world I’d take that option to not play on Sunday,” Hopoate said.

“But Canterbury is my employer and there is commonsense in everything you do.

"It is what it is. They pay me so I can provide for my family and I’ve got to do what they say and play on Sundays.

“It’s something I’d love to do (not play Sundays). It’s something I’d love to do from the beginning of my career to the end of my career. But that’s the world we live in and reality is (games are played Sundays).”

The Bulldogs only play three Sunday games in 2020 and will want Hopoate available in all of them.

He signed a new deal last month to tie him to Belmore until the end of 2021.

“Spiritually I felt good (not playing Sundays) but I’m still deeply religious and practice my faith where I can. I still attend church the morning of games if we play Sunday. I just make things work.”

6 COMMENTS

  2. I’m not worried about quoting the Bible Mr Hopoate. However before I do…. just one question. Why don’t you follow what the Bible says if it is the all authorized word of God? Don’t you know Sunday is the first day of the week.

    Your God wrote this fourth commandment with his own finger in tables of stone to indicate that it is eternally Holy and never to be changed.

    Exodus 20:8-11 8
    “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10. but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

    Remember Mr Hopoate playing footy is your employment/work.
    Has anyone got Israel’s phone number? I may require a barrister.

  4. Sensible no nonsense approach from Wil. A very solid, clean, consistent player. Seems like he’s been around forever but at 27 he should have few more good years in him.

  5. Thanks for your thoughts Will.

    What’s your opinion on a player sticking his finger up another player’s a&*e?

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