{"id":295732,"date":"2023-10-29T08:09:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T08:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=295732"},"modified":"2023-10-29T08:09:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T08:09:11","slug":"england-rugby-world-cup-ace-vunipola-used-to-question-if-mum-and-dad-loved-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/rugby-league\/england-rugby-world-cup-ace-vunipola-used-to-question-if-mum-and-dad-loved-him\/","title":{"rendered":"England Rugby World Cup ace Vunipola ‘used to question if mum and dad loved him’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lawes reviews England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa<\/h3>\n

England star Billy Vunipola has earned a reputation for being a tough nut to crack on the pitch, but away from it, the Rugby World Cup ace has displayed a far more vulnerable exterior than some might believe. To rugby fans, Vunipola is known as the 6ft 2, 126kg outspoken Saracens star who once fell out with Steve Borthwick before his grovelling apology saw him return to the team four years ago, and he turned his life around after some soul-searching.<\/p>\n

Born in Australia to Tongan parents, he represents England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds. He moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Fe\u02bbao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998, with his mother, Iesinga, was a Methodist minister in High Wycombe.<\/p>\n

Like his 32-year-old brother Mako – also an England international – Vunipola Jr found his calling with rugby. He turned out for local side Thornbury RFC before being given a scholarship to attend Harrow School, and it was there where he made an impression in front of scouts. In 2012, he was snapped up by the academy of Wasps, the now-extinct London rugby club.<\/p>\n

But growing up, things weren’t always easy for Vunipola after constantly finding himself being reprimanded by his parents. Only later in life did he realise that their strictness with him was derived from their care for him, as Vunipola admitted he used to doubt if they loved him at all.<\/p>\n

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“I remember growing up, being told off by my mum and dad,” he said in an interview with The Times in 2018. “I used to question if they truly did love me, because they always told me things I didn’t want to hear. But you grow up and realise they just wanted the best for you. That’s something I’ve learnt from and truly appreciate.<\/p>\n

As well as drinking heavily and staying up late, the England No 8 admitted he veered off from the path that his parents had put him on and an intervention convinced him to stop: “I started doing silly things, just normal things that kids do. Going out, not recovering, staying up late, all the stupid things that come with drinking, doing things I probably shouldn’t be doing,” Vunipola added.<\/p>\n

“I’m uncomfortable talking about it even now. I was bragging, [being] arrogant, things I’m truly sorry for, living a life that was opposite to what I’d grown up knowing, what I was taught by my parents.”<\/p>\n