DEAL DONE: Vunipola will depart Saracens despite contract offer

The formidable No 8 is at a crossroads, deliberating between staying with Saracens or embarking on a lucrative venture in the Far East.

Previously associated with the Tokyo-based team in Japan's burgeoning League One, the 31-year-old opted to extend his contract with the Premiership champions.

However, following a limited role in the recent World Cup, the once stalwart of the England pack finds himself reassessing his career trajectory.

Sources from Mail Sport reveal ongoing discussions with Sungoliath, while Saracens have also extended a new contract offer.

A potential mitigating factor in retaining top talent could be the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) introduction of hybrid contracts. Under this initiative, £150,000 will be contributed to incentivize the retention of the best English players within the Premiership.

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Itoje’s rise to the top of the rugby world has been truly meteoric, scooping up many individual accolades whilst contributing hugely at club and international level.

The lock, who is equally at home on the flank, is one of a number of success stories from the Saracens Academy, stepping up to the first team for his debut in January 2013 in the LV= Cup.

Since then he has made 150 appearances, and has developed into a world class option with astounding physicality and defensive attributes.

The four-time Premiership winner and three-time European champion’s international CV also makes for impressive reading. ‘The Pearl’ guided England U20 to their second-ever World Rugby Championship title before gaining a full cap in the 2016 Six Nations where Eddie Jones’ side were crowned Grand Slam champions, and he now has over 50 caps for his country.

He made three Test starts on England’s victorious summer tour of Australia and another Six Nations gong before becoming a British & Irish Lion in 2017 and 2021 featuring in all three tests on both tours.

Itoje was named European Player of the Year and Land Rover Discovery of the Season in 2016 as well as man of the match in Saracens’ maiden European Cup success.

Saracens captain, England captain. Fly half Owen Farrell has been one of the best players in the world for the last decade. An instrumental player for both club and country, Owen Farrell has continually impressed the rugby world with his goal-kicking and game management.

Owen continues to lead from the front, with over 100 caps for his country and 200 for Saracens, having made his breakthrough in the 2010/11 season, where he helped spearhead Saracens to their first Premiership title, with victory over Leicester Tigers at Twickenham.

Joining the Saracens Academy aged 14, Jamie George has received widespread praise for his performances at club and international level.

Firmly established as Sarries and England (and the Lions in 2017 and 2021) hooker, George grew up in a rugby environment with father Ian having represented Northampton Saints, London Welsh and the Barbarians during his playing days.

The hooker made his senior Saracens debut in November 2009 after a loan spell at Southend and carved out a regular spot in the matchday 23 in the 2010/11 season with the club winning its maiden Premiership title. His progress has rocketed since, and he has now made over 250 appearances for the club.

A further four domestic gongs and three European successes have followed while an England debut came ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. With the national side, George has won two Six Nations, been part of a victorious 3-0 whitewash series in Australia and was a mainstay as Eddie Jones’ team equalled a world-record run of wins.

Two years after his first international run-out, George starred in New Zealand for the British & Irish Lions as he started all three tests, and he now has over 50 caps for England. He was also selected for his second consecutive Lions tour, when he headed to South Africa to take on the World Champions.

Off the field, George co-owns a physiotherapy practice called Carter & George with life-long friend Rhys Carter.

A versatile talent capable of playing in several positions to an international standard, Elliot Daly’s rugby journey began aged five at Beckenham.

He spent three years with Dorking from 2006, joining Wasps’ Elite Player Development squad before progressing to the Academy.

The England full-back, who is equally at home at centre and the wing, became the second-youngest player to represent Wasps, making his debut against Exeter Chiefs in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in November 2010.

Daly’s speed and long-range kicking ability made him an extremely valuable weapon and he went on to make over 200 appearances for Wasps, and now has over 50 caps for his country.

He has already proved himself to be a huge asset to Saracens, and his searing pace has seen him creating and scoring plenty of tries for the Men in Black.

Following a successful 2016/17 campaign, the ex-London Scottish loanee was selected for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, playing in all three Tests, and he was also selected for the 2021 tour to South Africa where he played in two tests.

Daly is just the second ever man to play for and a