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Vunipola: 'This is what I chose, the life I signed I up for'
By Ian Cameron
Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola has opened up about his attitude to the potential risks posed by concussion as a professional rugby union player.
The subject of concussion and head injuries in rugby are an ongoing and heated debate for the sport, but the big back row is comfortable with the level of risk he has assumed by playing the game.
Vunipola, who left out of England head coach Steve Borthwick's first Guinness Six Nations squad last week, spoke speaking to former teammate Jim Hamilton on The Big Jim Show podcast.
"No [I'm not worried]. This is the life I chose," said Vunipola. "And this is my mindset, me personally. I've got a kid now, I understand that risk.
"My parents sacrificed to come over to England, a country that is very foreign to them, a different language, giving me an opportunity to grow up in such a privileged country. That is my role for my son and if that means something might happen... I just can't live my life thinking like that.
"I've got to be present in the now. Whatever happens in the future and I don't want to regret anything I say now in the future, in terms of, you know, 'Yeah, I'll be fine, don't worry about me' but this is the life I chose, what I signed up for.
"I would love to be the healthiest person in the world but that's just the way it is. You've just got to accept it. That's all I can say about myself.
"You forget to be present in the moment and enjoy it. If I do worry about the future that would happen to me."
The subject has been front and centre once against as the RFU revealed that they are lowering the height of the tackle to the waist for amateur rugby in England from July onwards in a bid to reduce to head to head contacts.
"To get bogged down by people telling me that little head knocks here and there will affect you. I'd love some of the people to tell me what has happened to me, if it ever happened to them.
"I've been knocked out I don't know how many times. Won't be that much. Maybe three or four. I never got up thinking who's fault was that?
"I play this game and I know it's dangerous, but I do enjoy it."
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Latest Comments
“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”
Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.
“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”
Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.
To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.
I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.
I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.
I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.
“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”
lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.
Go to commentsGood to see this guy back, looking forward to this years RC.
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