The Sydney Daily Telegraph reported that Land Rover, who signed a AUD$850,000 (£473,000) deal with Rugby Australia in February, had confiscated the luxury car due to his anti-gay comments.

On April 2, Folau replied to an Istagram user by declaring that gay people were headed for "HELL ... unless they repent of their sins and turn to God".

A week later Land Rover repossessed the car, on April 9, becoming the first company associated with the Waratahs player -- Folau was not an official ambassador -- to pull sponsorship due to his comments.

Folau, a devout Christian, has defended his beliefs on religious grounds and has since posted videos on his social media accounts airing similar anti-gay sentiment.

On Thursday, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika admitted that fans might no longer see the fullback as an idol due to his comments.

Cheika told Fox Sports: "There's been a lot made of [this].

"Self-esteem in people, no matter who they are, is extremely important -- self belief, self-esteem -- and if that's something that you don't agree with, then you detach from that.

"That way it'll be, 'he's no longer my idol if that's the case, if that affects [me] like that'."