England's Vunipola backs Folau in social post

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.

View this post on Instagram

So this morning I got 3 phone calls from people telling me to ‘unlike’ the @izzyfolau post. This is my position on it. I don’t HATE anyone neither do I think I’m perfect. 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. 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? I’m not perfect I’m at least everything on that list at least at one point in my life. It hurts to know that. But that’s why I believe there’s a God. To guide and protect us and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

A post shared by Billy Vunipola (@vunipola_billy) on Apr 12, 2019 at 2:27am PDT

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."

Club Statement regarding Billy Vunipola's social media post.

➡️ https://t.co/uVvTlRBF41

— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) April 12, 2019

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."

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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."