Ali Price hints some Scotland rugby stars might again not take the knee this weekend – as he insists it should come down to personal choice.
Gregor Townsend’s squad were engulfed in controversy on Saturday ahead of their stunning Six Nations glory over England when only four players made the act of solidarity at Twickenham.
They were heavily criticised after a muddled response to the ‘moment of reflection’ and attempts of an explanation from Townsend and Scottish Rugby did little to satisfy the critics.
Now Price – who did take the knee – is adamant it is not up to Murrayfield chiefs to organise a standardised response ahead of Saturday’s showdown against Wales in the capital.
He said: “There may well be a discussion but I feel it’s an individual’s decision.
“It’s not been spoken about yet.
“We’re all grown men, we have our opinions and thoughts on the matter.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I believe.”
Price revealed he has played in several matches in recent months when he stood silently alongside his team-mates in support of the Rugby Against Racism campaign – and that he had made a split-second decision to go down on one knee before the historic triumph last weekend.
The scrum-half said: “It felt like the right thing to do.
“It’s the first time I’d been in that kind of situation.
“In any of the games I’ve played previously, it was never something that was there – in some games we’ve ran out and gone straight to kick-off, in some we’ve had a moment’s silence for whatever reason – so it was a decision I made.
“It wasn’t something we spoke about, like when you face the haka and decide to line-up in a certain formation.
“Walking out on the field, I didn’t have in my head what was going to happen in that moment.
“We were told beforehand that there would be a round of applause for Sir Tom Moore and everyone who has sadly passed away due to Covid, followed by a moment of reflection around racism in sport.
“On the day, I felt it was right to take a knee, but at the same time I could have stood like many of the other players and team-mates did and just had that moment of reflection.
“If I had stayed standing, bowed my head, and reflected, I would have had the same thought-process as when I took a knee.
“I don’t think there is too much to read into that – everyone was reflective, everyone was respectful, and then we got on with the anthems and the game.”
