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England prop responds to French move rumours

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mako Vunipola has dismissed reports claiming he is lining up a bumper pay day by moving to the Top 14 after his current deal ends with Saracens in 2022.

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French media have linked three times British and Irish Lions tour member Vunipola with a string of big spending clubs claiming that his current demands over a new Saracens contract of more than £400,000 a year is going to force a move.

However, RugbyPass has learnt that the reports are “not true” and the 30-year-old is not seeking to leave a club he joined in 2011 having moved from Bristol.

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Brother Billy also has a contract that runs out in 2022 and they prefer to be operating in the same club, both have young families and also have cousin Manu in the Saracens first team squad with his contract running until 2023.

“The Vunipola family are an integral part of the Saracens story,” Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said last year when both brothers vowed to help take the relegated former European and English champions back into the Premiership.

“Mako is a hugely respected member of the squad who shows genuine care for his teammates. We are delighted he has committed his future here.”

During his time at Saracens he has won four Premiership titles in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, with Vunipola featuring in three of the four finals (he missed 2019 through injury)and also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

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Vunipola has played in nine Lions tests and won 67 England caps and amassed 170 appearances for Saracens.

The French reports also claimed that Vunipola’s England and Lions team mate Sam Simmonds is also being chased by their leading Top14 clubs and a move could become likely if Eddie Jones continues to ignore the record try scoring No8.

 

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

I mean overall talent, not that they will all play 20 years. That is impossible with rugby. The younger players like Elrigh is of course not world class yet. With more experience they will become world class. They are already exceptional players. Not even Eben and the current boys was world class when they started. They were exceptional yes, but not world class. Only experience brings that.


Generational players is very few and far inbetween who is world class from the off. The younger players can only become world class with the proper training and experience isn't something that can be bought. It's something they have to earn through their careers.


As for SRP being a good competition, I disagree. It's slanted in NZ favour and always has been. It's not what it used to be. The URC is now rated as the top club competition in the world next to the top 14 outside of the CC, and I didn't make up that rankings. You feel SRP is better because of our bias towards the NH, but it simply is not.


Yes, I don't know all the young Bucs of NZ coming through, but most of those you named I've seen and they are very good players but not exceptional nor world class. Just as with SA youngsters, that is something that will come with experience and they will become world class and is definitely the future for them.


NZ and Australia don't have the player pool depth that SA have. NZ's are bigger than most, but then most of their stars came from the Island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. If you count them, then maybe yes, they have as big a pool.


NZ will always be a top 3 team, as will SA. At least for the next 2 decades. That doesn't mean that other countries don't have some world class youngsters coming through either.


I don't claim that SA will win everything for the next 20 years. Nor that they will win the next 5 WC's. A lot depends on players, coaches, law changes and how the game keeps changing. There is too much variables. SA do have a bright future for the next 20 years , players who will hold the flag high. Same with NZ.


Nothing and no one can stop the Rivalry. I know the Irish is trying to replace the Boks with themselves as the main rivals. Everyone tunes in to watch the Boks vs AB's, all over the world. Every year. That is the most anticipated Tests by everyone every year.

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