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Mako Vunipola confirms he's staying at Saracens despite relegation

Mako Vunipola: PA
Mako Vunipola: PA

England prop Mako Vunipola has confirmed he is staying with Saracens, despite their relegation to the Championship.

Saracens were relegated from the Premiership this year due to salary cap breaches, but they have managed to keep hold of the core of their squad.

The club had seven representatives in last year’s World Cup final - eight for England and one for South Africa - and, of those, seven are staying put.

Scrum-half Ben Spencer has joined Bath, while lock George Kruis is set to move to Japan at the end of the season.

Billy Vunipola and Jamie George have confirmed they’re staying and now Mako Vunipola has followed suit.

The prop, whose current contract expires in the summer of 2022, has not signed a new deal but has confirmed he will not be leaving.

“This club has been very good to me and are very good to me,” he said.

“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.”

As well as Vunipola, Saracens are close to confirming that fellow England players Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell will be staying put too - although they’ll play a limited number of games in the Championship next season.

To keep their England stars Saracens have loaned out several young prospects, such as Ben Earl, Max Malins and Nick Tompkins - while high-earners such as Australia lock Will Skelton and Wales full-back Liam Williams have also left.

Club stalwarts Brad Barritt and Richard Richard Wigglesworth are also leaving at the end of the season, which is due to resume next month.

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