Billy Vunipola: England player defends Folau's 'hell awaits gay people' post Vunipola says Folau isn't saying "he doesn't like or love those people" but we should live our lives "closer to how God intended".

Image: Billy Vunipola has defended an anti-LGBT social media post by Australian player Israel Folau

England rugby bosses have said they will talk to Billy Vunipola after the player defended a social media post by Australian star Israel Folau in which he said "hell awaits" gay people.

Vunipola, 26, wrote on Instagram that what Folau said "isn't that he doesn't like or love those people".

England's number eight said "I don't HATE anyone", adding that Folau is saying "how we live our lives needs to be closer to how God intended them to be".

Vunipola added: "Man was made for woman to pro create that was the goal no?"

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A Rugby Football Union spokesperson told Sky Sports News: "Rugby is an inclusive sport and we do not support these views. We will be meeting with Billy to discuss his social media posts."


Vunipola's club side Saracens have said they will also investigate and take the matter "very seriously".

England world cup winner Will Greenwood said "everyone is welcome" in a sport that "thrives on inclusivity".

"To bring in vocabulary that condemns, that vilifies, that discriminates, immediately you start to use words that are absolutely against all our values."

"When that happens and you are a public figure, an international sportsman, then you have to understand you are crossing a line and you're promoting hatred," he added.

Image: Israel Folau faces being sacked by Australia after talks with officials on Friday

Folau, a devout Christian, posted a picture on social media on Wednesday which included the words: "Warning. Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators. Hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves."

Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union held a private meeting with the full-back in Sydney on Friday, having previously been unable to contact him.

Officials said afterwards "our joint position regarding Israel Folau is unchanged", meaning he is set to be sacked.

Image: Israel Folau's Instagram post

Vunipola, whose brother Mako also plays for the national side, liked Folau's post and was later forced to respond to criticism on Instagram.

"So this morning I got three phone calls from people telling me to 'unlike' the Izzy Folau post," he wrote.

"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.

Image: Billy Vunipola in action for his club side Saracens

"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 procreate, 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."

Folau, who has won 73 caps, looked likely to be a central figure for the Wallabies in the World Cup in September, but he now looks certain to miss the tournament.