England prop Mako Vunipola announced his retirement from international rugby before the 2024 Six Nations.
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The 32-year-old ends his Test career with 79 caps for England. He also earned nine caps for the British & Irish Lions, participating in nine consecutive Test matches during the 2013, 2017, and 2021 tours.
Vunipola has been in excellent form for Saracens this season, with a potential move to Montpellier alongside his brother Billy being highly anticipated.
If he continued playing until 2026, the then 34-year-old would be eligible to switch national teams, potentially leading to an international comeback with Tonga. His brother Billy could be in a similar position, with the option to play for either Tonga or Australia.
Mako, who could also qualify to play for New Zealand, expressed a desire to represent Tonga but acknowledged the complications given his extensive career with England.
When asked about a possible switch a few tears ago, he said” “When I’m with England, I’m proud to be English, but understanding my heritage is Tongan. Whatever I can do to try and help as much as I can; not just with Tonga but the islands, I do.
“Obviously I’d love to play for them, but it’s difficult because it would be unfair to those back on the island; to see myself as an old man coming in and taking that opportunity away from them.
‘It’s a catch-22 really. You’d like to see people not being tied down to one (country) and being able to represent those countries – and they’d be better for it – but you’d also like locals to have the opportunity to make a better life for themselves by playing for their country and on the back of that getting contracts overseas.”
The 33-man England Squad Steve Borthwick Should Select For Summer Tour
It’s been a decade since England’s last visit to New Zealand, a challenging 2014 series under Stuart Lancaster resulting in a 3-0 defeat.
The memories of the 2008 tour aren’t any sweeter, with England tasting defeat in both Tests against the All Blacks. However, a glimmer of triumph emerged in 2003, as they secured a thrilling 15-13 victory over New Zealand just before the Rugby World Cup.
In this highly anticipated tour, Borthwick’s squad will face a formidable challenge with only two tests against the All Blacks, following a clash with Japan in Tokyo.
Here is the list of our predicted squad organised by their current clubs:
RUCK’s England squad for the summer:
Harlequins
- Joe Marler
- Fin Baxter
- Chandler Cunningham-South
- Marcus Smith
Bristol Bears
- Ellis Genge
- Harry Randall
- Gabriel Ibitoye
Saracens
- Jamie George
- Theo Dan
- Maro Itoje
- Ben Earl
- Elliot Daly