Billy Vunipola - News, interviews, analysis and opinion

Tag: Billy Vunipola

Bouscatel looks like he will run again

22 December 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN ADVENT tensions rather than goodwill in the corridors of French rugby power in the week leading up to Christmas, as Top […]

Ospreys crash to earth

15 December 2024 0 comments

■ By SIMON THOMAS Montpellier ……………. 59pts Tries: Martins 11, DuGuid 15, Uelese 29, Coly 37, Akrab 43, Moustin 52, Cadot 54, Forletta 62, Tambwe […]

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

10 November 2024 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has – so far – been no exception. In fact, […]

Tom Willis: Ben Earl is an inspiration to all

6 October 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Saracens No.8 Tom Willis will be taking inspiration from clubmate Ben Earl when he heads into England training camp. Willis is back […]

Set-piece woes leave Quins adrift in Corsica

1 September 2024 0 comments

■ By NICK POWELL Montpellier …..37pts Tries: Tisseron 8, Camara 20, Tauleigne 66, Karkadze 72 Conversions: Coly 9, 21; Barreau 67, 73 Penalties: Coly 15, […]

International pair join Montpellier

14 July 2024 0 comments

MONTPELLIER have confirmed the signing of England No.8 Billy Vunipola, right, and former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg, below. Hogg, who retired last summer after four […]

Effort and enterprise the key for Saints

16 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SEES PLENTY OF HIGHLIGHTS BUT WARNS THE GAME MUST SHOW IT CAN PAY FOR ITSELF Northampton’s first Premiership title for 10 years was […]

McCall confident stunned Saracens will bounce back

26 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens have endured a tough campaign on and off the pitch as they head into the playoffs but director of rugby Mark […]

McCall: Vunipolas at the heart of all we have achieved

19 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall says departing stalwarts Mako and Billy Vunipola are ‘two of the keenest rugby minds’ he’s ever […]

Sarries’ star exits generate extra fuel

19 May 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Saracens are the defending Premiership champions, and Mark McCall’s side are looking more and more capable as we […]

Warning for Vunipola but Sarries carry on as usual

12 May 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK BILLY Vunipola put his club Saracens through a PR disaster when he was arrested in Mallorca but director of rugby Mark McCall […]

Rugby’s holy trinity prove the difference

12 May 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED SINCE time immemorial, rugby has been cloaked in its own cliches: Prince Obolensky was always “dashing”; Colin Meads lived his life […]

When Goodall was the bigger man

12 May 2024 0 comments

Ken Goodall shall forever be remembered as one of Ireland‘s greatest back row forwards, a humble man with a freakish talent ever willing to bust […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 12/05/24

10 May 2024 0 comments

The Premiership returns with every team in the top seven heading into this weekend still having a chance of clinching a home semi-final, find reports from all […]

Vunipola warned again by RFU over drunken arrest

9 May 2024 0 comments

Billy Vunipola has received a formal warning from the RFU for the second time in just over five years, on this occasion in relation to […]

Vunipola warned over behaviour

5 May 2024 0 comments

SARACENS have warned England forward Billy Vunipola about his future conduct after he was arrested in Majorca on Sunday but will take no further action […]

Vunipola arrested and tasered twice in Majorca incident

29 April 2024 0 comments

Saracens and former England number eight Billy Vunipola has been arrested following a violent incident in a bar in Majorca. According to reports in The […]

Saracens know how to win – Tompkins

28 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side […]

Saracens get back in the old routine

21 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 46pts Tries: Parton 7, 12, 20; McFarland 41, Willis 56, Hartley 62, Cinti 65 Conversions: Farrell 8, 13; Manu Vunipola […]

Premiership previews: Round 15

19 April 2024 0 comments

The Gallagher Premiership returns this week after a two-week Champions/Challenge Cup hiatus, and with teams second through to eighth all on eight wins and separated […]

Time to create a new dynasty

14 April 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at what Mark McCall needs to do at Saracens as several big names head for the exit door WHEN Saracens first won […]

Bordeaux put sorry Sarries to slaughter

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux …………………….. 45pts Try: Garcia 36, 48; Depoortere 61, 66; Bielle Biarrey 63, 75 Conversions: Lucu 27, 49, 61, 64; Garcia 67, […]

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

31 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Pat Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season. The 68-cap […]

French setting sights on Tuilagi

10 March 2024 0 comments

Perpignan and Montpellier are chasing the signature of England centre Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi would join up with his nephew Posolo Tuilagi at Perpignan and represent […]

Borthwick should put faith in this trio

3 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED PETER Winterbottom knows a thing or three about our sport, so you would expect him to make some telling points over […]

Mercer: I’m focused on Gloucester

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES If desire to play for England was a factor in selection, Zach Mercer would be one of the first names on the […]

Double for McFarland as Saracens find feet

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL CLEMENCE Saracens ……31pts Tries: Tizard 2, McFarland 8, 15; Lewington 28, Hallett 70 Conversions: Vunipola 3, 9, 70 Leinster…… 19pts Tries: Jenkins 45, […]

It’s time for Borthwick to ignite the backline

28 January 2024 0 comments

ADAM HATHAWAY Steve Borthwick has done the easy bit in picking a 36-man squad for the Six Nations, the hard bit is naming his 23 […]

Time for Borthwick to deliver

28 January 2024 0 comments

Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Paul Rees says that, this time around, the fixture list has been kind to the World Cup semi-finalists IT IS […]

George to captain England as Feyi-Waboso named in squad

17 January 2024 0 comments

Jamie George has been named England captain as Steve Borthwick handed opportunities to seven uncapped players, including Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, in his 2024 Six Nations […]

Bordeaux thump Saracens to make Champions Cup statement

14 January 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Bordeaux-Begles……………….55 Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 8, 80+1; Buros 12, Lamothe 21, Penaud 35, 57; Depoortere 44, Jalibert 52, Uberti 78 Conversions: Jalibert 9, 13, […]

Pepper the shining star for Falcons as they battle hard

7 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Newcastle have had little to smile about this season, but Guy Pepper has added some spice to the fare being served up […]

Time for Borthwick to look to the future

7 January 2024 0 comments

According to reports, as the television news broadcasters like to say, Billy Vunipola is toying with the idea of a move to Japan at season’s […]

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

7 January 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England promise to look very […]

Here’s my England squad for Six Nations

24 December 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There will have been times when the honeymoon period predicted for Steve Borthwick’s first year as England […]

Champions Cup round two Friday and Saturday preview

15 December 2023 0 comments

The 2023/24 Champions Cup began with a bang last weekend, showcasing thrilling moments and a remarkable start for English teams, as seven out of the […]

Saracens make it too easy for Bulls

10 December 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bulls …………………………….. 27pts Tries: Kriel 2, Swanepoel 39, Moodie 48 Conversions: Daly 61, McFarland 71 Goosen 3, 39, 49 Penalties: Saracens ……………………… […]

Saracens keen for Vunipola to stay

26 November 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens are believed to have offered Billy Vunipola a deal to remain in north London next season after French […]

Seven-try Saracens too good for Bears

26 November 2023 0 comments

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens …………………….. 39pts Tries: Farrell 7, Lewington 11, Vunipola 27, Lewington 44, George 53, 77; Willis 68 Conversions: Farrell 45, 54 Bristol […]

Premiership Round Seven Preview

24 November 2023 0 comments

In the aftermath of an exhilarating round of derbies, where Bath narrowly triumphed over Bristol, Leicester Tigers revived their season by outplaying Northampton Saints, Saracens […]

Premiership Derby Weekend preview

17 November 2023 0 comments

Round six of the Gallagher Premiership ignites local pride and historic rivalries with three intense derbies set to take place. Bath face Bristol under the […]

Lawes left out for Curry in England’s final match of World Cup

25 October 2023 0 comments

Courtney Lawes has missed out on being selected for England’s final game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Tom Curry getting the nod at […]

Itoje is too expensive for French

8 October 2023 0 comments

French clubs have gone cold on signing England and Lions lock Maro Itoje when his contract with Premiership champions Saracens runs out at the end […]

Arundell drives England revival

24 September 2023 0 comments

By NICK CAIN England …………………………71pts Tries: Arundell 20, 30, 48, 60, 69; Dan 24, 45; Rodd 35, Smith 40, 77; Willis 80 Conversions: Farrell 25, […]

Brilliant Ford has the drop on Pumas

10 September 2023 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY England, down to 14 men within three minutes of the kick-off, put in a performance of guts, determination and poise to beat […]

When you go down to 14, it’s flight or fight… and England fought

10 September 2023 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOMETIMES a little adversity does you good and it certainly sparked a reaction from England in Marseille last night. Already under the cosh […]

Sarries fight to keep hold of big stars

27 August 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens are looking to head off potential interest in some of their big-name stars out of contract at the end of the […]

Series 3, Episode 5: Argentina’s World Cup prospects and Farrell and Vunipola bans with Marcelo Bosch

24 August 2023 0 comments

Following their respective suspensions, Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell will miss the start of the World Cup this year as England‘s preparations continue to falter. […]