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Billy Vunipola booed again at Ricoh Arena, on and off the pitch

Billy Vunipola

England Number 8 Billy Vunipola was booed once again during the first half of Saracens European Champions Cup match with Munster at the Ricoh Arena.

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Vunipola started Saracens’ Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Munster after a week that saw him receive formal warnings from his club and the Rugby Football Union.

The booing wasn’t confined to pitch either, with fans giving the big backrow the bird as he got off the bus on arrival at the stadium. At least one Munster fan chose to sport a rainbow flag to make their point.

The England international posted on social media that “man was made for woman to procreate that was the goal no?”‘ and he also liked a social media post from controversial Australia star Israel Folau that stated “hell awaits” for homosexuals.

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Vunipola was warned about his future conduct by Saracens and the RFU, but he lined up at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in a team that saw his brother Mako return from injury.

Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall said of potential booing: “That’s not something we can control, to be honest. Whatever happens, will happen. He has got to deal with that, and we’ve got to deal with that as a group. It’s probably better to expect it to happen, and then wait and see.”

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Asked if he was concerned for Vunipola’s mental state and McCall said: “No. Billy’s sensitive, but I think he’s also strong.

“He’s also got a group who, he’s been with us for a long time now, and a group who support their team-mates. They get behind each other from a rugby point of view, and that’s what we’ll do for this weekend.”

Additional reporting PA

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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