Vunipola reveals why he refused to take a knee

Billy Vunipola declined to take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter last weekend because of his opposition to elements of the movement’s protests.

Vunipola, the England No 8 of Tongan heritage, remained standing before Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership defeat at Bristol on Saturday while his elder brother Mako knelt.

Asked about his involvement in the Israel Folau controversy last year, the devoutchristianwentonto explain the stance he took when the league returned after a five-month absence due to coronavirus.

Reports in the United States have claimed that in July, as BLM protests continued over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, churches and religious statues were set on fire and vandalised.

Vunipola’s Samoa-born England team-mate Manu Tuilagi also refused to take a knee as did the majority of South African players involved in round 14.

“A similar situation happened with the Black Lives Matter movement last week when we were asked if we want to take a knee or not,” Vunipola told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.

“What I saw in terms of that movement was not aligned with what I believe in. They were burning churches and Bibles. I can’t support that.

“Even though I am a person of colour, I’m still more a person of, I guess, Jesus.”

Vunipola was embroiled in controversy in April 2019 when a post on his Instagram account read “Man was made for woman to pro create that was the goal no?”

The 27-year-old was acting in support of Australia full-back and Christian fundamentalist Folau, who stated on social media “hell awaits” for “homosexuals”.

Vunipola received formal warnings from the Rugby Football Union and Saracens and says he would now take a more measured approach.

He said: “[Now] I wouldn’t go about it the same way, it would be more of a conversation from my point of view. I’d talk to whoever had any questions.”