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England receive major Vunipola boost ahead of Wales game

Mako Vunipola during England training (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mako Vunipola has been included in the England squad for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at Twickenham.

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The loosehead was not expected to feature after returning to Tonga for family reasons last week.

Just a few days ago, England head coach Eddie Jones stated that Vunipola would “probably not” be available after a family member was taken seriously ill.

However, Jones has this morning included the 29-year-old in his 34-man squad for the round four game.

Vunipola has only featured once in this year’s Six Nations so far, starting in the 13-6 defeat of Scotland at BT Murrayfield.

Anthony Watson also returns having overcome a calf problem.

While there is still no room in Jones’ squad for Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds or Ollie Hassell-Collins, the England boss has called up Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Maunder as a third No 9.

Billy Vunipola, Joe Cokanasiga and Jack Nowell remain among the players unavailable for Jones this week.

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England squad update Wales week:

Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks)

Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

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Comments on RugbyPass

D
DC 9 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'The soul was not lit up by underwhelming Lions first Test'

Also a ex member of the Rebels and agree with the comments above! Why the MCG which wont have the 90K attendees being suggested?

8 Go to comments
B
BA 11 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

We have the seagulls in NZ to aim at to find space

267 Go to comments
J
JW 12 minutes ago
Test hooker identifies 'almost that All Blacks aura of old' in French sweep

Will a full strength AB team be as good as that team last week though?

5 Go to comments
T
Tk 16 minutes ago
Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Not convinced myself. I think everyone became entranced with the miracle plays and runs but those can't game manage a hard, close test match. Brilliant rugby player not a great 10.

46 Go to comments
J
JW 17 minutes ago
Anton Lienert-Brown to team up with fellow All Black in Japan

I’d have to imagine he’s not on a lot, he prefers to remain in NZ and just take what time he can get in the black jersey, so the sabbatical is just icing on the cake (he would be expecting to make the WC squad).

7 Go to comments
T
Tk 18 minutes ago
Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

IMHO Hansen's biggest fault was picking his favourite 15 players then trying to show horn them into positions rather than picking the most cohesive and effective team.

46 Go to comments
M
Mark 20 minutes ago
British & Irish Lions player ratings vs First Nations & Pasifika XV | 2025

Player ratings will always be subjective to the person who’s doing the ratings….obviously, it’s no more than an objective opinion is it.

If you took your comment re the Lions being about the whole team/squad, then the rating for this tour would be 6.5 at best.

Its been very mediocre, both in terms of the rugby played by the Lions and the quality of opposition they’ve faced.

7 Go to comments
N
NB 20 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Tbh I don’t think either 10 played particularly well JW.

267 Go to comments
N
NB 25 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Yes these guys may not stick around for long but they can still impact the game positively with their ideas.

267 Go to comments
N
NB 27 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Yes no reason for Razor to just chuck him in at the deep end at 10. Why not give him a chance to succeed at the spot he knows best first?

267 Go to comments
N
NB 32 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Defence is a little bit of a problem at 10. Ramos is not a good front line defender and Jalibert’s frailties are known. So who is the best newcomer in behind Ntamack? Hugo Reus?

267 Go to comments
B
BA 35 minutes ago
All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku's NPC return confirmed

12/13/ wing for the bench I reckon

15 Go to comments
N
NB 35 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

I think you’re underselling Hastoy a little bit there S. I reckon he’s a better player than that, nor am I convinced Ntamack is such a great game manager at 10 without a strong influence at 9 like Lucu or Dupont inside him. Hastoy takes on more responsibility at LAR than Ntamack does with Toulouse. And I certainly do not know why they started Segonds ahead of him in the first two Tests. Was he unfit?

267 Go to comments
J
Jimmy 36 minutes ago
The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

All Black pundits blowing smoke………🤔

2 Go to comments
B
BA 39 minutes ago
Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

I thought it was a sabbatical which he has had twice?

46 Go to comments
J
JW 42 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Even though they drew with France last year?


I haven’t watched the games or followed URC to know if its those same form players though. We’ll have to revisit this come 6N time.

267 Go to comments
N
NB 44 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Not sure about the Auradou-Brennan equation. I think Auradou is a lineout caller so that may count heavily in his favour.


Depoortere is a good un, but I feel he is already ‘there’ in Galthie’s thoughts before hte tour ever happened! Part of the 2027 group, if you like rather than a newcomer to it.


Mallez I will watch with interest, esp if he can play both sides of the scrum as someone said.

267 Go to comments
J
JW 44 minutes ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Correct by Nick??!! HAHAHAHA he doesn’t even watch SR dude lol


And as I have probably told you already (and Nick has made the point many times as well if you like him as your prophet) one off games do you a lot of good.


Fair enough though that 2017 season was a good go at it, it’s just 2025 now Fran.


You clearly do not follow All Black rugby to a great extent, they are a heavily ‘development’ focused team. They have to be, they live on the smell of an oily rag.

267 Go to comments
J
JW 48 minutes ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

Haven’t seen the French scrum go so far backwards until this last test…

40 Go to comments
J
JW 49 minutes ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

I can go along with that be we all know to take domestic footy with a grain of salt comparing to internationals. We have just had an example of this from France with all their form guys getting selected over hardened international players and losing badly.

40 Go to comments
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TRENDING British & Irish Lions player ratings vs First Nations & Pasifika XV | 2025 British & Irish Lions player ratings vs First Nations & Pasifika XV