Yet those same young men, who are positive role models in so many ways, are also at the centre of so much attention because of their personal lives.

They face on-going legal battles over their negative behaviours as well as spiteful attention from spectators and so-called fans because of what they represent. Both aspects are representative of what Australia stands for and should be of concern to all Australians, even if they are not interested in competitive sport.

The big issues at stake, especially social inclusion, shouldn't be relegated just to the sports pages. One sub-theme is the place of social media in these controversies.

Probably the biggest name involved is Israel Folau, the Waratahs and Wallabies rugby union star. He is a remarkable cross-code footballer having also played for Greater Western Sydney in the AFL. He is also an outspoken Christian and for the past year has been in conflict with Rugby Australia, his employer, over anti-gay social media posts.

Expensive legal teams are being assembled as Rugby Australia attempts to dismiss him for breach of contract through the mechanism of a code of conduct hearing. Folau, a repeat "offender", believes his social media posts are not just an expression of his freedom of speech but also of his freedom of religion. It is his right, he insists, to say publicly that gays and others, such as adulterers and drunks, will go to hell, in the Biblical sense.

Rugby Australia stands for inclusiveness and demands that its employees not publicly dissent from official policy on such a sensitive matter, coming so soon after the No-voting Folau was embroiled in similar controversy at the time of the same-sex marriage postal plebiscite.

Its corporate supporters are concerned, and his Waratahs teammates are conflicted because, while liking Folau personally, they too believe in the values of diversity and social inclusion.

The National Rugby League is also in the courts, specifically the Federal Court, to defend its decision to implement its new "No Fault" stand down policy against St George Illawarra's State of Origin forward Jack de Belin after he was charged with a particularly aggressive aggravated sexual assault to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The case is yet to reach court, after de Belin was arrested last December, following several other unrelated instances of sexual violence by players that brought rugby league into disrepute in what is described as a summer from hell for the game.

De Belin's case rests on him being innocent, and therefore not to be penalised, until proven guilty. The NRL's defence of damage to the game's brand clearly also has commercial overtones.

Its policy, which allows it to stand down any player charged (but not convicted) of a serious crime, is driven by the potential damage to the game's sponsors and its broadcast revenue. Already $10 million in sponsorship has been lost following the summer from hell as sponsors wipe their hands of the sport.

Neither Folau nor de Belin can reasonably be described as victims because they have brought it on themselves by what they have done (in the case of Folau) or what they hare alleged to have done (in the case of de Belin). But players subjected to racial abuse clearly are victims.

This issue appears to plague Australian Rules football even more than rugby league and rugby union although it is widespread in all codes.

The AFL has been fighting on-field racial abuse against Indigenous players for many years and has devoted considerable resources to that fight. Famous Indigenous football names such as Nicky Winmar and Michael Long have been associated with the fightback by the players and the celebrated coach Kevin Sheedy has contributed to initiatives such as the AFL Indigenous round, featuring prized special Indigenous football jerseys.

Despite its best efforts, the AFL has conspicuously failed to eliminate racism and spectators, the most difficult participants of all to control, are clearly to blame.

The case of the racist attacks on Sydney Swans legend and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes was a prime example. He was temporarily driven from the game for standing up for his people. Some critics even argued that he brought it on himself by being provocative.

The flimsiness of that excuse has been demonstrated by the continued racism on social media, the most recent in the past week against Port Adelaide star Paddy Ryder by an Adelaide Crows member who has been suspended from his membership indefinitely. Other Indigenous champions like Collingwood's Travis Varcoe have spoken about racism for the first time.

Repeated racist slurs have been made against Adelaide's own All-Australian and much-loved and admired veteran forward Eddie Betts, who played his 300th game over the weekend, starring with six goals. It is a distressing indictment of our society that racism is deeply embedded in the psyche of some sports fans and regularly rises to the surface in vile attacks.

Sport provides a variety of examples of issues that demand wider resolution. The cases of Folau and de Belin are being played out in the courts but spectators, club members, corporate sponsors and media owners will make their own judgements.

The freedom of speech/religion question is genuinely contested but there can be no defence, other than on procedural grounds, against sexual violence of any form. The same is true of racism and its regular outbreaks within sport reflect its continued blight on our society.