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Mako Vunipola to join Top 14 newcomers Vannes in statement signing

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Newly promoted Top 14 outfit Vannes have announced the signing of former Saracens, England, and British & Irish Lions loosehead prop Mako Vunipola on a two-year deal, as reported by RugbyPass.

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A month after beating Grenoble in the Pro D2 play-off final, the club have upped their recruitment drive by landing the 79-cap England prop a day after signing winger Filipo Nakosi.

Saracens announced that the 33-year-old would end his 13-year association with the club at the end of the season in May, and while a move to France was expected, many originally predicted that he would join his brother Billy at Montpellier.

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    After Montpellier maintained their status in the Top 14 with a 20-18 victory over Grenoble in the relegation play-off, next season will see the Vunipola’s go head-to-head instead.

    That will not be the only encounter between former Saracens players that France’s top division will play host to next season, with Owen Farrell also set to join Racing 92.

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    After his move from Saracens was announced, Vunipola said: “I’m grateful for everything this club has given me. I’ve grown up at this place and it will be forever in my heart. Thank you.”

    Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall added: “Few players change how their position is played. Mako’s all-around skillset, rugby intelligence and physicality made us – as coaches – rethink what’s possible from a loosehead prop.

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    “Mako has achieved a phenomenal amount in the game; three Lions Tours, multiple England caps and being central to all Saracens has created.

    “A good friend and dedicated family man, Mako will forever be a part of the Saracens family and we wish him, Alex, Jacob, Joshua and Grace the best for what’s ahead.”

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    F
    Flankly 11 minutes ago
    Irish provinces in danger of being left further behind, in their own country

    Sometimes the explanations lie within, sometimes without. And we don’t always look the right way.


    The story of top flight rugby is that what won yesterday is not what wins today. The standards are improving and the margins are narrowing.


    I don’t think the Irish provinces have regressed in quality, so much as the bar has been raised, and it keeps getting higher. A team needs to be really good in every department and to play to their potential in order not to be beaten by a mid-table team. Nobody takes Benetton lightly anymore. The Scottish teams are serious contenders. We're two games from the end of the regular season and there are 14 teams vying for the 8 playoff slots. And if it weren’t for the implosion in Welsh rugby administration in recent years, you’d have to believe that things would be even more competitive.


    Also, independent of general trends, SA rugby is going from strength to strength. The Ireland teams lost all of their games this last weekend, but the SA teams won all of their games. That’s not going to happen every time, but its consistent with the overall reality that SA has been succeeding at national level, is supplying dozens of top players (and some coaches) to non-SA clubs, and has a rising tide of nextgen players that are increasingly in evidence. There could easily be 3 SA teams in the URC playoffs, and while none of them would be favorites against Leinster in a final, any of them would be legit contenders.


    There is work to do in the non-Dublin Irish teams, but I would characterise it as needing to get ahead and stay ahead of the league, rather than a loss of quality per se.

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