Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Social media is a trap,' warns Denny Solomona in the wake of the Folau fall-out

Sale's Denny Solomona is cautious about his social media use (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Controversial Sale winger Denny Solomona has spoken out about the trap of social media in the wake of the high profile controversy surrounding Israel Folau.

ADVERTISEMENT

The England international isn’t immune to using the mediums. After all, he has 13,000 Twitter followers and another 21,000 checking him out on Instagram.

However, he has been busy steeling himself in the recent past towards ensuring he doesn’t take any negative comments about him to heart.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion but, for me, social media is a trap,” he said in an interview with the UK-based Telegraph newspaper.

“People become fixated on the negatives of it. There might be thousands of positive comments towards you but if there is one negative, it can rile you.

“I believe in God, but I’ve probably done six of the other seven of the things [Folau] listed,” added Solomona, moving on to the controversy ignited by the Australian international Folau whose Instagram post has left Rugby Australia wanting to terminate his recently inked four-year contract extension.

“What I think he’s saying is that it’s never too late to turn to faith if you want guidance,” said Solomona.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’ve been in the media for a lot of controversial things, but my faith has led to me being a better person now. I’ve learned my lessons and that’s what I think [Folau and Billy Vunipola] are trying to say, that whatever you believe in – Mother Earth, whatever – you can turn to it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwEWt2uHcLI/

One of the issues Solomona has found himself engulfed by was an allegation that he called an opposition player a “f…..g f….t”.

He denied using the homophobic slur and while a disciplinary panel found him guilty on the balance of probability and issued a four-week ban, he still maintains his innocence and stresses his reasons for not going down the appeal route was the possibility it could have interfered with his selection for England’s June 2018 tour to South Africa.

“I have a lot of gay relatives. Gay people aren’t an issue for me – I accept people for who they are. And anyone can play rugby, no matter who they are. I don’t even know why that is a conversation. Everyone should live their life and be loving,” said Solomona.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was one man’s word against mine. I know what I said. [Shillcock] knows what he thinks I said. I was found guilty, but I’m not going to be worried about my past because I’m all about my future.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search