REPORTS | Premiership club set to finalise loan move for Vunipola

Monday, 28 September 2020 at 11:04

bySteven Smith

Manu Vunipola looks like he is on course to follow in the footsteps of cousins Billy and Mako into the England set-up.

The 20-year-old Saracens fly-half has produced two 15-point hauls in recent wins over London Irish and table-toppers Exeter Chiefs, and is proving to be an able deputy for Owen Farrell at the club.

With those sort of outstanding displays, it might not be long before he gets the opportunity to play a similar role for his country with Eddie Jones reportedly being a huge fan..

It's now expected that he WILL NOT spend a season in the Championship, with the former England U18 and U20 international set for a season-long loan to newly promoted Newcastle Falcons.

According to RUCK sources, the fly-half was originally set to stay, but now on the cusp of international selection wants to push on next season in the English top flight.

Having won four caps at U18 level for England, he played eight times for England U20s in 2019, and was part of the squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship that year.

The 2019/20 season was a breakthrough campaign for Vunipola, also making his first Champions Cup outing for Saracens.

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UPDATED | The full confirmed list of who’s leaving Saracens...

Joe Gray (Harlequins)

Joe Gray of Saracens celebrates after winning with Brad Barritt

Liam Williams (Scarlets)

The blockbusting counter-attacker was due to rejoin the Welsh region at the end of the season but that has been brought forward.

Matt Gallagher (Munster)

The Irish-qualified full-back, 23, joined Munster in July h having had his first taste of Thomond Park in a Champions Cup pool defeat to Johan van Graan’s side on December 7.

Ben Earl (Bristol Bears - loan)

Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby - loan)

Max Malins (Bristol Bears - loan)

Will Skelton (La Rochelle)

Skelton helped Sarries to a domestic and European double in 2018 when he was also named players’ player of the year. Following his initial short-term move in December 2016, he made the switch to North London permanent ahead of the following season.

Titi Lamositele (Montpellier)

Nick Isiekwe (Northampton Saints - loan)

Departing on loan after signing a new deal with Sarries, Isiekwe arrived after making over 50 Premiership appearances as well as two Premiership and one Champions Cup winners medals.

Richard Wigglesworth (released)

Ben Spencer (Bath)

The England scrum-half is leaving relegated Saracens after almost a decade of service and has signed a three-year deal at the Recreation Ground.

Nick Tompkins (Dragons - loan)

The 25-year-old Wales international revealed he held talks with all four Welsh regions but chose to join Dragons on a season-long loan as they were the most "exciting" option.

Brad Barritt (retired)

Barritt has quite simply played an incredible part in the club’s journey over the past 12 years. A cornerstone of the Saracens defence for so long, the longevity and consistency of his performances – all 257 of them so far – can only be admired.

Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues)

The 22-year-old arrived in north London after appearing at the Rugby World Cup in Japan and made his Sarries debut in the Champions Cup away to Racing 92. However, the prop returned to Wales as he looks to push for further international honours.

Alex Goode (NEC Green Rockets)

The fullback has signed a new contract with Saracens which will see the fullback continue at Allianz Park until 2023. The deal means the 32-year-old will spend almost 20 years with the club, whose academy side he joined before going on to appear for the first team in 2008. One jersey he will be wearing at the end of the current campaign is that of Japan’s NEC Green Rockets, who he has been loaned to until the end of May.

Tobias Munday (released)

Viliami Hakalo (retired)

Alex Lozowski (Montpellier - loan)

Juan Figallo (released)

George Kruis (Panasonic Wild Knights)

The England lock will end his 11-year association with Saracens in November and move to Japan after signing for Panasonic Wild Knights. Following Sarries relegation, Kruis decided it was the right time to make a move he had been mulling over for two years.