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Agence France-Presse

Saracens will hope the focus returns to their rugby when they face Munster in a European Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday.
The English champions are under pressure off the field amid a probe by Premiership Rugby over a possible breach of domestic salary cap rules.
Saracens have also been dealing with the row sparked by Billy Vunipola liking a post from Australia’s Israel Folau that stated “hell awaits” for homosexuals.
The England No 8 was warned by both his club and the Rugby Football Union after a post of his own last week that read “man was made for woman to procreate that was the goal no?”

Vunipola was subsequently jeered by fans during Saracens’ 23-21 loss away to Bristol last weekend.
He is set to start against Munster in Coventry, with coach Mark McCall telling him to prepare for more boos.
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
Mark McCall, Saracens coach
“He has got to deal with that, and we’ve got to deal with that as a group,” McCall said. “It’s probably better to expect it to happen, and then wait and see.”




















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





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Malcolm Orchard

Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle announces in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, April 15, 2019, that player Israel Folau has been served with a breach notice over his posts attacking gay people on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram on April 10. Folau said he had no intention of retracting or apologizing for his comments about gay people which, he insisted were based on his Christian beliefs. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Sport

Rugby


England man was booed after ‘liking’ Folau’s controversial social media post
Vunipola refuses to withdraw his support of the Aussie’s views



England man was booed after ‘liking’ Folau’s controversial social media post


Israel Folau fallout: Billy Vunipola in awkward spotlight ahead of European semi-finals after appearing to support Australian

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} England man was booed after ‘liking’ Folau’s controversial social media post Vunipola refuses to withdraw his support of the Aussie’s views

England man was booed after ‘liking’ Folau’s controversial social media post

Vunipola refuses to withdraw his support of the Aussie’s views