England No.8 Billy Vunipola has defended himself for ‘liking’ discriminatory comments made by Australia fullback Israel Folau on social media.
Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was informed by Rugby Australia (RA) on Thursday he would be sacked if he could offer no good reason for a social media post that said gay people would go to “hell” if they did not “repent”.
Vunipola said he had been told by three people to withdraw his apparent support to Folau’s post.
“He’s 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?,” Vunipola wrote on Instagram.
Folau’s post has been ‘liked’ on Instagram by more than 30,000 users, which according to Australian media reports, included some of his Wallabies team mates.
Vunipola was born in Australia to Tongan parents but moved to the UK as a child and qualified for England through residency. He and his brother Mako both play for Saracens, England’s leading Premiership club.
“I don’t HATE anyone neither do I think I’m perfect,” Vunipola added.
“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.”
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) stressed they do not support Vunipola’s views and will meet the England international as a result.
“Rugby is an inclusive sport, and we do not support these views,” an RFU spokeswoman said in an email. “We will be meeting with Billy to discuss his social media posts.”
Saracens also condemned Vunipola’s comments and said the club will deal with the matter internally.
“We recognise that people have different belief systems and we expect everyone to be treated equally with respect and humility,” Saracens said in a statement.
“As representatives and role models, Saracens players have a responsibility not only to themselves but to the club and wider society.
“Billy Vunipola’s recent social media posts are inconsistent with this and we take this matter very seriously. It will be handled internally.”
clipper
Roar Rookie
Why just pick on those 8 targets - why not mention tattoos as per Leviticus 19:28 which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” Won't people with tattoos be going to hell too, including Folau, after all, that is what the Bible teaches.
ethan
Guest
I make a perfectly reasonable comment, being disrespectful to no one, with no foul language of any kind, and it gets moderated out? What kind of agenda are the Roar running here.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
What a surprise moderated again for having a different opinion on a website that no doubt according to the heirschy prides itself on inclusion and diversity. Yet after asking the roar to contact me via email probably half a dozen times to spell out exactly what I have said wrong and putting up with a number of posters calling me a flog, a liar and a bigot (TWAS) and of course no moderation for him it seems a really weird double standard?. Perhaps you guys can get of the high moral horse you undoubtedly think you are mounted on and drag yourselves down a notch or two to respond to me?. I await as per usual your reply.
Aligee
Roar Rookie
Sorry boys - not diverse or inclusive enough, we only want diverse opinions that are not actually diverse but actually pretty much totalitarian.
Leivi Mulitauaopele
Guest
I think Israel Folau is speaking his mind about what he thinks should be said and made clear to the world. That is if we sin and do not repent of that sin then we will go to hell for sure. He's not saying that he hates homosexuals, liars and the like - no, he's saying that they need to think seriously about their ways that it is not what the Bible teaches in terms of God creating man and woman.
Peter Magee
Guest
I fully support Billy’s right to express himself respectfully on social media. When will rugby authorities wake up to themselves that they are acting in an aithoritarian police state manner. Shame on them for hiding behind so called respect and tolerance when they themselves refuse to tolerate someone who dares to stand against the propaganda of the ‘Almighty’ media.