By Will Kelleher For Mailonline
Published: 18:56 BST, 15 April 2019 | Updated: 19:05 BST, 15 April 2019
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Billy Vunipola was formally warned for his controversial social media comments in support of homophobic Israel Folau last night by Saracens – but will not be fined or banned.
The England No 8 held lengthy discussions with his club on Monday and has moved to clarify his Instagram post, which he sent out on Friday.
Vunipola, commenting on the back-lash that Australian full-back Folau received for saying that ‘hell awaits’ homosexuals if they did not repent, wrote that that ‘man was made for woman to procreate’.
Billy Vunipola has been warned for his controversial social media comments by Saracens
He was subsequently dropped by Channel 4’s rugby coverage and then booed when he played against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Saturday.
While Rugby Australia will sack Folau, 30, for his second anti-gay outburst in a year, and said on Monday he had 48 hours to accept that verdict or face a code-of-conduct hearing, Vunipola has now explained his own views but stopped short of apologising to the LGBT community.
‘I can see that my recent post has hurt people,’ said the England forward with Tongan heritage whose mother is a Methodist minister.
‘My intention was never to cause suffering. My intention was to express my belief in the word of God.
‘These beliefs are a source of great strength, comfort and guidance in my life.
