RUMOUR | Billy and Mako Vunipola linked with shock move

Monday, 16 March 2020 at 09:44

bySteven Smith

England internationals Billy and Mako Vunipola are attracting interest from around the world with Super Rugby clubs the latest to join the race to sign them for next season.

According to The Rugby Paper, the Saracens duo have never hidden their desire to play in Super Rugby, both born in the Southern Hemisphere, Billy in Sydney, Australia and Mako in Wellington, New Zealand.

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Neither brother is yet to commit their futures to Saracens, who will be relegated from the Premiership to the Championship following their salary cap scandal.

Several Super Rugby franchises are thought to have made contact to enquire about their plans for next season, but no formal talks have taken place at this stage.

EDITORS PICKS

If the pair did make the shock move, they would be unavailable for England and would miss the 2020 Autumn internationals and 2021 Six Nations.

However, it would be up to the British & Irish Lions if they wanted to select the pair when they tour South Africa that summer.

RUGBY BROTHERS AT THE 2019 WORLD CUP RANKED

Below, we rank rugby brothers heading to the Rugby World Cup based on a methodology that – if we're being completely honest – we never really managed to firm up.

Let's just call it gut feeling, shall we?

RUGBY BROTHERS RANKED:

6. James and Jordon Lay (Samoa)

The pair of loosehead props, who are contracted to Bristol Bears, will be gunning for the same position. Jordan is slightly more experienced with 12 caps to James' seven. Two very decent scrummagers.

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5. Michael and Allan Alaalatoa (Australia/Samoa)

Michael was named in Samoa's 31-man squad for the tournament in Japan. Allan, meanwhile, is included in the Wallabies' squad for the tournament. The two tighthead props were both born in Sydney where their father is understood to have played club rugby before he himself went on to represent Manu Samoa at the 1991 World Cup.

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4. Jack and Seilala Lam

31-year-old Jack is a destructive back-rower who has 34 caps while younger brother Seilala has won 12 caps at hooker. They'll both be key cogs in the Samoa team. They're also the cousins of Bristol boss Pat Lam.

3. James and Jonathan Davies (Wales)

Elder sibling Jonathan is a double Grand Slam winner, and was a British and Irish Lions series winner in Australia in 2013 and Lions man of the series against New Zealand four years later. James is a relative novice at international level - with five Wales caps compared with Jonathan's 75 - but is no stranger to the big stage after winning a silver medal with Team GB in 2016.

2. Beauden and Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)

Beauden, Jordie, Scott and Kane all went on to become professional rugby players. The duo heading to Japan are set to be key parts of Steve Hansen's squad as the All Blacks gun for a third consecutive Rugby World Cup title.

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1. Billy and Mako Vunipola (England)

Born in Tonga and raised in Wales, Billy and Mako Vunipola are on the road to becoming the best set of brothers to represent England ever. They've both developed into world-class players, winning everything there is to win with Saracens and would be the two first names on the teamsheet if match fit.

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