Response to Folau & Vunipola shows importance of rugby's values - Andy Goode
The punishments meted out may be different but the incidents involving both Israel Folau and Billy Vunipola’s social media posts and the responses to them show that the values of rugby remain vitally important and must be upheld.
It is an old truism that rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes. That is debatable in the modern professional game but there’s no doubt it should be a sport for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race, etc and let’s hope the response to Folau and Vunipola ensures it remains so.
I completely agree with the decision taken by the ARU. Folau has been warned about this kind of thing before and what he posted on social media clearly violated rules or guidelines put in place by the organisation as well.
They have confirmed that he has “committed a high-level breach of the Professional Players’ Code of Conduct warranting termination of his employment contract”.
I am a Christian and there are various different denominations that make up the religion, varying degrees to which it is followed and it means different things to different people but his views are extreme ones and I don’t think they’re shared by most Christians.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but when you are saying that homosexuals will go to hell unless they repent that’s bordering on religious extremism really and, as well as it having no place in rugby, you can’t be preaching that when you’re in his position.
Obviously it has shocked and offended a lot of people but people look up to him and you don’t know what damaging effects it could have on people who want to have the strength and courage to be themselves and come out as homosexual.
Mental health is such an important issue in sport and society as a whole and his words do have the potential to cause harm. I think it’s great the way that the overwhelming majority of the rugby world has joined together to speak out against this sort of attitude.
The ARU’s stance is a hard one and a brave one because, ultimately, he’s Australia’s best player and there is a World Cup in less than six months. It shows that values and the inclusivity of rugby are more important than one man’s ability and that should be applauded.
I played with Euan Murray and he was a deeply religious man, so much so that he didn’t play on Sundays. Nobody had a problem with him holding those beliefs but there was an incident when we were playing cards on the bus and he was trying to preach to people.
At that point, I think it does become an issue because everyone is entitled to live their life how they see fit and I don’t think anyone has the right to impose their beliefs on other people.
Clearly, I’m not equating Euan’s actions with those of Folau but I just don’t think there’s any need for the Australian to preach and alienate large groups of people.
Quite what Billy Vunipola was thinking liking the post and then coming out with the line that “man was made for woman to procreate” when Folau was already hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons only he knows.
He obviously has his beliefs too and was honest enough to say that he has been “at least everything on that list at least at one point in my life” but his intervention was ill-advised.
I think Saracens acted swiftly in issuing a statement to confirm that Vunipola’s post was inconsistent with the club’s values and I think formally warning him about his future conduct was the right call as well.
His indiscretion was not as bad as Folau’s and let’s not forget that Folau has repeatedly been warned about this before, whereas Billy has not.
Anyone who knows Billy will tell you he’s not a malicious person and he has said himself that he lives “with kindness and love towards ALL people”. That doesn’t mean it’s ok but I do think a formal warning is sufficient in his case.
I know there is a meeting taking place with the RFU this week as well but I don’t expect too severe a punishment to be handed out if they do act. It would be good to see an educational element to any punishment that is forthcoming.
It’d have been interesting to see what would’ve happened if this had happened in the middle of the Six Nations as I do think he might have been dropped. Although, they pick him and pay him per game, though, they don’t directly employ him so it is different for them.
Whatever your views on the cases of Folau and Vunipola, it hasn’t been a good episode for rugby but the response has at least shown that those beliefs don’t have any place in the game and it is an inclusive sport. Long may that continue.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
4 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
4 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
4 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
96 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
96 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
96 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
96 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
96 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
96 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
96 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
96 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
96 Go to comments