England players given option over taking the knee

England’s players have been told it is a personal choice whether they take a knee in recognition of rugby union’s stand against racism prior to their match against Italy.

There is to be an allocated time slot prior to the national anthems at the Stadio Olimpico and, after speaking about the matter as a squad this month, players will be able to mark it in a way they see fit.

Billy Vunipola, who opted against kneeling in support of the Black

Lives Matter movement prior to Premiership matches last season, said England’s leaders had made each player comfortable with their own choice.

“It’s been an ongoing discussion,” the 27-year- old said. “We talked about it the first week we got in. Like anything in life, it is a personal choice. The leaders made that clear and made everyone comfortable with what they wanted to do.

“We’re here to respect each other’s decisions, different or the same.”

Vunipola returns at the base of England’s scrum for his first Test start since last year’s World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

Meanwhile, Jamie George says his Saracens t eam- mates who caused the cancellation of England’s game against the Barbarians “realise they messed up”.

Thirteen players face disrepute charges from the Rugby Football Union after two separate breaches of the Barbarians’ Covid-19 bubble caused last Sunday’s fixture to be scrapped.

Ireland win the title if they defeat France with a bonus point. If they win without one, it could come down to points difference with England.

England win the title with a bonus point win over Italy and if Ireland fail to beat France, unless the latter win by a bonus point and by two more points than England.

France win if they beat Ireland and better England’s result against Italy.