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Billy Vunipola's first impression of his new life at Montpellier

Billy Vunipola reacts after his final appearance for Saracens last May (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former England international Billy Vunipola has given a first impression of his new life in Montpellier. The 31-year-old, who was at Saracens from 2013 to 2024, has quit the Gallagher Premiership for the Top 14 for the next few years and after beginning pre-season on July 17, he has now shared his thoughts on his first couple of weeks in the south of France. 

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Speaking at his first media briefing since joining the club that finished 13th in the 2023/24 Top 14, Vunipola insisted his move across the Channel was about the business of winning and not money. 

“It’s a new life choice, a new club, but I didn’t come to collect my salary, I want to give the best for this club,” said the Rugby World Cup 2019 finalist in a report published by L’Equipe

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“I met Bernard (Laporte, the director of rugby), the president (Mohed) Altrad last week and I understood their expectations. They want the club to be at the top. I want to help them in this project and get back into shape.

“It is weird to start a season away from Saracens. I spent a lot of years there, won titles (five English Championships and three European Cups) but I felt it was the right time to move on. 

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“It wasn’t an easy choice to leave England. I knew I would no longer be eligible for selection, there is the language barrier, a new life far from the comfort of Saracens to which I had become accustomed, a new culture but once I made the decision, I was very happy and I got fully involved.

“It’s hot, so hot. I have never experienced a preparation in such heat. My wife and son think we are just here for the summer holidays but I can assure them that it’s anything but a holiday,” he chuckled. 

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Highlighted in Vunipola’s calendar for the season ahead is the October 6 Montpellier versus Vannes fixture, the game where he could pack down against older brother Mako as he has also made the switch from the Premiership to Top 14.

“We already faced each other once when I played for Wasps (2011-2013) and the following week, I signed for Saracens. It’s going to be a great time, provided we win!”

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GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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