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Mako Vunipola the latest high profile name to stick by Championship-bound Saracens

(Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)

England and Lions prop Mako Vunipola has become the latest high profile player to commit his future to Saracens ahead of their 2020/21 demotion to the Championship for repeated breaches of the Gallagher Premiership salary cap.

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A slew of players have already signed up for second-tier duty, Jamie George doing so as recently as just last Friday. Now his England and Lions colleague Vunipola – winner of the RugbyPass FIFA 20 players charity tournament – has decided to do likewise, the 29-year-old agreeing to continue his nine-year journey with the London club.

“This club has been very good to me and are very good to me,” said the prop who has made 168 Saracens appearances to date and is relishing the challenges that lie ahead in a rugby restart that will see the club fulfil the last nine of its remaining Premiership fixtures – starting at Bristol on August 15 – and a European quarter-final away to Leinster.

Video Spacer

England and Saracens No8 Billy Vunipola guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

Video Spacer

England and Saracens No8 Billy Vunipola guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

“They have looked after me, given me the opportunity to be the player that I’ve been and given me the platform to keep improving. I have no doubt the club will be back and fighting for championships and that is part of the reason why this decision was quite easy.

“It wasn’t all too difficult for me as I could see the group we had and the strength of the club. I’ve no doubt we will attack this challenge as we have done with the other challenges we have had before.”

Having earned six British and Irish Lions Test series caps as a Saracens player, the influential prop will now hope his decision to stay at the club in the Championship won’t hinder his chances of 2021 tour selection. Saracens boss Mark McCall added: “Mako is a world-class player who is able to combine an innate understanding of the game with brutal physicality and an incredible skill set.

“The Vunipola family are an integral part of the Saracens story; 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.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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