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Mako Vunipola commits to Saracens ahead of relegation as London Irish get new temporary home at the Stoop

Mako Vunipola would change nothing over his business decisions despite the Saracens salary cap scandal: Reuters
Mako Vunipola would change nothing over his business decisions despite the Saracens salary cap scandal: Reuters

Mako Vunipola has joined brother Billy in committing to a season in the Championship after pledging his future to Saracens next season.

The England prop is contracted to the soon-to-be relegated club until 2022, and has elected to stay in north London when they drop down to the second tier for the 2020/21 campaign in an effort to secure an immediate return to the Premiership.

“This club has been very good to me and are very good to me,” Vunipola said, having joined Saracens nine years ago from Bristol before being joined by Billy in 2013.

“They’ve looked after me, given me the opportunity to be the player that I’ve been and given me the platform to keep improving.

“I have no doubt the club will be back and fighting for championships and that’s part of the reason why this decision was quite easy.

“It wasn’t all too difficult for me as I could see the group we had and the strength of the club. I’ve no doubt we’ll attack this challenge like we have done with the other challenges we’ve had before.”

Vunipola has developed into one of the world’s leading loosehead props, collecting 59 caps for England since making his debut in 2012 and making six Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017.

The 29-year-old is contracted through to the end of the 2021/22 campaign, though would need to remain in England for another season if he were to make the Rugby World Cup the following year, but he becomes the latest high-profile player to commit his future to Saracens next season.

Younger brother Billy has already done the same, while fellow front-row Jamie George signalled his intentions by signing a new contract last week until 2023. England full-back Elliot Daly has also signalled his desire to stay with the club, while both Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje are expected to commit their futures before the current season resumes.

Mako Vunipola is contracted to Saracens until 2022 (Getty)
Mako Vunipola is contracted to Saracens until 2022 (Getty)

With Saracens’ Championship squad beginning to come together, director of rugby Mark McCall believes that having both Vunipola brothers tied down for the foreseeable future stands the club in good stead ahead of their relegation.

“Mako is a world class player who is able to combine an innate understanding of the game with brutal physicality and an incredible skill set,” McCall said.

“The Vunipola family are an integral part of the Saracens story; Mako is a hugely respected member of the squad who shows genuine care for his teammates. We are delighted he has committed his future here.”

Flanker Calum Clark extended his contract by a year on Monday to remain with Saracens next season, joining the likes of Sean Maitland, Richard Wigglesworth, Ralph Adams-Hale, and Dom Morris to do the same in recent weeks, while Ben Earl, Max Malins, Alex Lozowski and Nick Tompkins will all return at the end of next season after departing on loan.

Saracens will return to Premiership action on Saturday 15 August at Bristol Bears, and will now play London Irish on Monday 31 August at the Twickenham Stoop after Harlequins offered to host the Exiles for the remainder of the season.

Having been left without a home following their departure from the Madejski Stadium in Reading as work on their new stadium in Brentford was held up during the coronavirus pandemic, Irish have agreed to groundshare with Quins for their remaining home games.

“Although we may be fierce competitors with Harlequins on the field, even rivals can support each other during extraordinary circumstances such as these, said London Irish chief executive Brian Facer. "I would like to thank the Quins Board, and in particular their chief executive Laurie Dalrymple and his team, for their positivity in accommodating our matches.”

London Irish will join Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop for the rest of the season (Getty)
London Irish will join Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop for the rest of the season (Getty)

Dalrymple added: “We are delighted to support our soon to be returning neighbours to be able to complete the 2019/20 Premiership season. The club is doing everything within its power to help get the sport back on its feet following the substantial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“With that in mind, Harlequins have come to an agreement that London Irish will play their remaining five home games in Twickenham, one of which comes against Harlequins."

Their first match back in south-west London will come on Saturday 22 August against the Northampton Saints, with the round 17 future against Saracens moved to Monday due to Harlequins hosting Northampton Saints on the Sunday afternoon.